Lake bottom plant and debris gathering apparatus with improved actuation and cleaning of raking mechanism

A plant gathering apparatus for removal of aquatic plant growth on a lake bottom, comprising:

• (a) a mobile frame having front and rear ends and adapted for towing across a lake bottom;
• (b) a raking mechanism mounted to said rear end of said mobile flame so as to undergo movement relative thereto between a raised inoperative position and a lowered position in which said raking mechanism is adapted to engage and gather aquatic plant growth as said mobile frame is towed across the lake bottom;
• (c) a towing assembly mounted to and extending forwardly of said front end of said mobile frame for use in towing said mobile frame across a lake bottom, said towing assembly also being coupled to said mobile frame to undergo rotational movement relative thereto between first and second positions being angularly displaced from one another;
• and
• (d) an actuating mechanism mounted to said mobile frame and connected to said towing assembly and being operable to cause movement of said raking mechanism between said lowered position and said raised position in response to rotational movement of said towing assembly between said first position and said second position.

A plant gathering apparatus for removal of aquatic plant growth on a lake bottom, comprising:

• (a) a mobile frame having front and rear ends and being adopted for towing across a lake bottom;
• (b) a raking mechanism mounted to said rear end of said mobile frame so as to undergo movement relative thereto between a raised inoperative position and a lowered position in which said raking mechanism is adapted to engage and gather aquatic plant growth as said mobile frame is towed across the lake bottom;
• (c) means mounted to said mobile frame and connected to said raking mechanism for actuating said raking mechanism between said lowered position and raised position;
• and
• (d) a cleaning mechanism mounted to said mobile frame and having positions extending along said raking mechanism for removal of accumulated plant material from said raking mechanism as said raking mechanism is moved from said lowered position to said raised position, said cleaning mechanism including
• a hood mounted on said mobile frame so as to substantially overlie said raking mechanism;
• and
• a plurality of baffles mounted to an underside of said hood and being extending downwardly therefrom in laterally spaced side-by-side relationship to one another.

A plant gathering apparatus for removal of aquatic plant growth on a lake bottom, comprising;

• (a) a mobile frame having front and rear ends and being adopted for towing across a lake bottom;
• (b) a raking mechanism mounted to said rear end of said mobile frame so as to undergo movement relative thereto between a raised inoperative position and a lowered position in which said raking mechanism is adapted to engage and gather aquatic plant growth as said mobile frame is towed across the lake bottom wherein said raking mechanism includes a plurality of tines, and an elongated transverse bar mounting said plurality of tines in laterally spaced side-by-side relationship with respect to one another on said bar, said transverse bar being mounted to said mobile frame for undergoing rotational movement relative thereto so as to thereby move said tines between said lowered plant gathering position and said raised inoperative position;
• (c) means mounted to said mobile frame and connected to said raking mechanism for actuating said raking mechanism between said lowered position and raised position;
• and
• (d) a cleaning mechanism mounted to said mobile frame and having portions extending along said raking mechanism for removal of accumulated plant material from said raking mechanism as said raking mechanism is moved from said lowered position to said raised position wherein said cleaning mechanism includes:
• a hood mounted on said mobile frame so as to substantially overlie said raking mechanism;
• and
• a plurality of baffles mounted to an underside of said hood and being extending downwardly therefrom in laterally spaced side-by-side relationship to one another and between said tines of said plurality thereof for removing accumulated plant material therefrom when said raking mechanism is moved from said lowered position to said raised position.

A plant gathering apparatus for removal of aquatic plant growth on a lake bottom, comprising:

• (a) a mobile frame having front and rear ends and being adapted for towing across a lake bottom;
• (b) a raking mechanism mounted to said rear end of said mobile frame so as to undergo movement relative thereto between a raised inoperative position and a lowered position in which said raking mechanism is adapted to engage and gather aquatic plant growth as said mobile frame is towed across the lake bottom;
• (c) means mounted to said mobile frame and connected to said raking mechanism for actuating said raking mechanism between said lowered position and raised position;
• and
• (d) plant conditioner means mounted to said mobile frame and extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom for engaging and pressing downward aquatic plant growth on the lake bottom prior to engagement thereof by said raking mechanism.