Hay Rake Support Arm Tilting for Compact Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hay-making machines face challenges in achieving a compact transport configuration with large working widths, as existing solutions result in high transport heights and widths due to the need for complex kinematics and long support arms, which lead to instability and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The support arms are pivoted beyond the vertical and tilted in opposite directions, allowing the rotary rakes to be oriented upright in the transport position, with the upper ends of the support arms and rakes positioned close to the vertical longitudinal center plane, reducing the need for extensive telescoping or complex kinematics, and the rake gyros are tilted to maintain a vertical orientation, achieving a low transport height and narrow width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the rotary rakes are swiveled vertically upwards into the road transport position, then the track width is reduced for road transport, but the rake rotors protrude higher than the roof of the tractor causing problems with low clearance heights
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms are articulated to pivot about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of travel, enabling the rotary rakes to be tilted from a horizontal working position to a vertical transport position. This dimensional change allows the rakes to be oriented upright rather than sideways, reducing track width while controlling height
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms are made telescopic with adjustable length, allowing dynamic adaptation between working and transport configurations. The telescopic mechanism enables the support arms to be extended during work for optimal rake positioning and retracted during transport to limit height while maintaining stability
2Area of stationary object
If the support arms are made telescopic to position the rotary rakes in the desired position in the lowered working position, then a large raking width can be achieved, but the structure becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms incorporate telescopic sections with adjustable length, allowing the raking width to be dynamically adapted to different working conditions. The telescopic mechanism provides continuous adjustability while maintaining structural integrity through pinned connections and rigid bracing
3Manufacturing precision
If the pivot points of the support arms on the machine frame are pulled very far upwards to realize a downward hanging alignment, then the rake tines can be aligned to the ground, but the rake rotors are pivoted particularly far upwards in the transport position increasing the height
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm length is made variable through telescopic sections, allowing the vertical distance from the pivot point to the rake rotor axis to be adjusted. This parameter change enables optimization of both ground alignment precision and transport height by selecting appropriate support arm lengths for different operational modes
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a haymaking machine with a machine frame (3) and with at least two rotary rakes (6) provided on opposite sides of the machine frame and each articulated to the machine frame by means of a support arm (9) projecting transversely from the machine frame. According to the invention, the support arms are pivotable upwards beyond a vertical position and, in the transport position, are inclined at an acute angle to the side opposite the vertical, which is opposite the working position side of the respective rotary rake. In this transport position, the rotary rakes can be tilted in opposite directions about the rake tilting axis (14) relative to their respective support arms, such that the plane of the rotary rake, which extends perpendicular to the rake axis, is inclined at an acute angle to the support arm and is substantially vertically oriented.