Machine for inverting windrows
OwnerHerman R. Ender, Sr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine advances along a windrow of hay, or other field crop, which is dry on top but still damp on the bottom. The windrow is engaged, elevated and urged rearwardly in a continuous stream. A diagonal deflector adjacent the after end of the machine intercepts the flow of the windrow and inverts it before returning the inverted windrow to the ground. Twin spaced rows of disappearing backwardly raked tines travel across the face of the deflector in the path of the windrow to assure inversion; and guide rods at the trailing end of the deflector smoothly direct the windrow as it gravitates to the ground. The damp side of the windrow is thereby exposed to the drying effects of sun and wind.
Claims9
A machine for inverting windrows comprising:
- a. a frame supported on ground engaging wheels for forward movement along a windrow;
- b. a pickup reel mounted on said frame for engaging, elevating and rearwardly moving the windrow;
- c. a windrow deflector mounted on said frame to the rear of said pickup reel, said deflector including a first portion having a slope varying from substantially horizontal at its forward end to a first upwardly sloping attitude adjacent its after end and a second portion having a more steeply inclined upward slope to engage and then laterally and rearwardly deflect and invert a windrow emerging from said pickup reel;
- d. tine means protruding through a slot in said deflector for engaging the windrow and positively advancing the same along a lateral and rearward path to emerge from said deflector and gravitate to the ground in inverted position;
- and,
- e. a substantially horizontal apron extending rearwardly from below the after end of said pickup reel and merging with said deflector to support the windrow as it emerges from said pickup reel and advances toward said deflector.
In a windrow inverting machine:
- a. a mobile frame supported on ground engaging wheels for forward movement along a windrow of pre-cut field crop material;
- b. reel means on said frame for engaging, elevating and rearwardly moving the windrow in a continuous fore and aft flow relative to said machine;
- c. a windrow deflector wall having an increasingly steep upwardly sloping portion positioned diagonally on said frame to the rear of said reel means to intercept, diagonally deflect and concurrently invert the moving windrow;
- and,
- d. tine means protruding through a diagonal slot in said deflector wall for engaging and advancing the moving windrow along the diagonal path toward the after end of said deflector wall, the moving windrow emerging from the after end of said deflector wall and gravitating to the ground in inverted attitude.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.