Rake wheels for gathering crop material

A rake wheel for gathering crop material into a windrow, the rake wheel comprising:

• a center hub having a rotational axis about which the rake wheel rotates;
• a plurality of tines that extend outward from the center hub, the tines including an outer end defining an outer circumference for engaging a surface over which the rake wheel rotates, and an inner end positioned radially opposite the outer end and secured to the center hub;
• a first disk having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer and inner surfaces extending radially toward the outer circumference of the tines, the first disk extending radially to at least 50% and less than 80% of the distance between the rotational axis and the outer circumference of the tines;
• a second disk having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer and inner surfaces extending radially toward the outer circumference of the tines, the second disk extending radially to at least 50% and less than 80% of the distance between the rotational axis and the outer circumference of the tines, the first and second disks forming the center hub;
• and
• a set of fasteners that extend between the first and second disks that clamp the tines between the inner surface of the first disk and the inner surface of the second disk, wherein the disks limit displacement of the tines in the axial direction relative to the rotational axis and permit the tines to move circumferentially between the disks.

A rake wheel for gathering crop material into a windrow, the rake wheel comprising:

• a disk, the disk having a center hub having a rotational axis about which the rake wheel rotates;
• a plurality of tines that extend outward from the center hub, the tines including an outer end defining an outer circumference for engaging a surface over which the rake wheel rotates, and an inner end positioned radially opposite the outer end and secured to the center hub of the disk, the rake wheel having a midpoint midway between the rotational axis and the outer circumference, the disk having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer and inner surfaces extending radially toward the outer circumference of the tines, the disk radially overlapping the midpoint, each tine being directly secured to the inner surface to limit circumferential movement of the tines;
• and
• a set of fasteners for securing the tines to the disk, the set of fasteners being disposed radially outward of the center hub.