Draw bar bifold hay rake

A pull-type bifold hay rake, comprising:

• a draw bar connectable to a tow vehicle;
• a cross-member mounted to the draw bar terminating in a pair of spaced ends disposed one on either side of the draw bar;
• a pair of rake arms pivotably mounted one-to each end of the cross member each rake arm having a plurality of rotatable rake wheels mounted thereto, each rake arm being pivotable between an operative open position in which the rake arms are moved away from each other and an inoperative closed position in which the rake arms are moved toward each other;
• wherein the rake wheels are movably mounted to the rake arms for movement between an inoperative raised position and an operative lowered position;
• a pair of ground-engaging wheels mounted to the bifold hay rake one on either side of the draw bar;
• a rake arm actuator mechanism interposed between the draw bar and the rake arms for selectively moving the rake arms between their open and closed positions;
• and
• a rake wheel actuator mechanism for selectively moving the rake wheels between their lowered and raised positions;
• wherein the rake wheel actuator mechanism is responsive to the rake arm actuator mechanism for moving the rake wheels to their lowered position when the rake arms are moved to their open position, and for moving the rake wheels to their raised position when the rake arms are moved to their closed position.

A pull-type bifold hay rake, comprising:

• a draw bar connectable to a tow vehicle;
• a cross-member mounted to the draw bar terminating in a pair of spaced ends disposed one on either side of the draw bar;
• a pair of rake arms pivotably mounted one to each end of the gross-member each rake arm having a plurality of rotatable rake wheels mounted thereto each rake arm being pivotable between an operative open position in which the rake arms are moved away from each other and an inoperative closed position in which the rake arms are moved toward each other;
• wherein the rake wheels are movably mounted to the rake arms for movement between an inoperative raised position and an operative lowered position;
• a pair of ground-engaging wheels mounted to the bifold hay rake one on either side of the draw bar:
• a rake arm actuator mechanism interposed between the draw bar add the rake arms for selectively moving the rake arms between their open and closed positions, wherein the rake arm actuator mechanism comprises a linkage mechanism interconnected between the draw bar and each rake arm wherein the linkage mechanism is movable between a first position for placing the rake arms in their operative open position and a second position for placing the rake arms in their inoperative closed position, wherein the linkage mechanism includes a series of link members pivotably interconnected with each other and with the draw bar, wherein a pair of link members are pivotably connected with each other on either side of the draw bar;
• a locking mechanism interposed between the linkage mechanism and the draw bar for selectively locking the linkage mechanism to the draw bar when the linkage mechanism is in its second position, wherein the locking mechanism includes interengageable locking structure mounted to the linkage mechanism adjacent the pivotable connection of the link members on either side of the draw bar for securing the link members together with the draw bar therebetween;
• and
• a rake wheel actuator mechanism for selectively moving the rake wheels between their lowered and raised positions.

A pull-type bifold hay rake, comprising:

• a draw bar connectable to a tow vehicle;
• a pair of rake arms pivotably interconnected with the draw bar, each rake arm having a plurality of rotatable rake wheels mounted thereto, each rake arm being pivotable between an operative open position in which the rake arms are moved away from each other and an inoperative closed position in which the rake arms are moved toward each other with the draw bar disposed therebetween;
• wherein the rake wheels are movably mounted to the rake arms for movement between an inoperative raised position and an operative lowered position;
• a rake arm actuator mechanism interposed between the draw bar and the rake arms for selectively moving the rake arms between their open and closed positions, wherein the rake arm actuator mechanism includes a pair of pivotably connected lock members located between the draw bar and each rake arm;
• and
• a locking mechanism associated with the rake arm actuator mechanism for selectively securing the rake arms to the draw bar when in their closed position to prevent the rake arms from moving away from their closed position, wherein the locking mechanism includes interengageable locking structure mounted to at least one of the link members in each pair of link members adjacent the pivotable connection of the pair of link members for securing the link members together with the draw bar therebetween.