Method and apparatus for positioning a hay rake

A rotary hay rake comprising:

• a gearbox having a central nonrotating part with a bore disposed therethrough, and a peripheral rotating part, peripherally and rotatably mounted to the central nonrotating part, for rotating at least one rake arm;
• an actuator mounted above said gearbox;
• a support frame mounted below said gearbox and moveable between a lower operating position and an upper maneuvering and transport position;
• and
• a connecting member disposed within the bore and coupled to both said actuator and said support frame, said connecting member being moveable in at least a first and second direction;
• wherein said actuator, acting on said connecting member, serves to move said support frame between the lower operating position and the upper transport position and any position in between, and
• wherein said actuator includes a hydraulic motor and a screw.

A rotary hay rake comprising:

• a gearbox having a central nonrotating part with a bore disposed therethrough, and a peripheral rotating part, peripherally and rotatably mounted to the central nonrotating part, for rotating at least one rake arm;
• an actuator mounted above said gearbox;
• a support frame mounted below said gearbox and moveable between a lower operating position and an upper maneuvering and transport position;
• a connecting member disposed within the bore and coupled to both said actuator and said support frame, said correcting member being moveable in at least a first and second direction;
• and
• a tow bar assembly further comprising:
• a rear extended part, said rear extended part having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to structure associated with said gearbox;
• and
• a central extended part, said central extended part having a first end and a second end, said second end coupled to said second end of said rear extended part and said central extended part movable with respect to said rear extended part;
• said rear extended part positionable at a first lower position and a second upper position as a result of movement of said central extended part,
• wherein said actuator, acting on said connecting member, serves to move said support frame between the lower operating position and the upper transport position and any position in between.

An apparatus for positioning a hay rake, the hay rake including a gearbox with a central nonrotating part, a peripheral rotating part, and rake arms attached to the peripheral rotating part, the central nonrotating part defining a bore therethrough, comprising:

• an actuator, said actuator mounted above said gearbox;
• a support frame, said support frame mounted below said gearbox and movable between a first lower position and a second upper position, said support frame including:
• an upper central part, said upper central part coupled to a lower end of said gearbox and defining a central bore therethrough, said connecting member extending through said bore;
• a lower central part, said lower central part slidably received within said upper central part and coupled to said lower end of said connecting member;
• a right central connecting rod, said right central connecting rod having a first end and a second end and said right central connecting rod coupled at its first end to said lower central part;
• a left central connecting rod, said left central connecting rod having a first end and a second end and said left central connecting rod coupled at its first end to said lower central part;
• an upper right rod, said upper right rod having a first end, a second end, and a transverse pin disposed between said first end and said second end, said first end coupled to said upper central part and said transverse pin received within a bore defined by said second end of said right central connecting rod;
• an upper left rod, said upper left rod having a first end, a second end, and a transverse pin disposed between said first end and said second end, said first end coupled to said upper central part and said transverse pin received within a bore defined by said second end of said left central connecting rod;
• a right lateral connecting rod, said right lateral connecting rod having a first end and a second end, said second end coupled to said second end of said upper right rod;
• a left lateral connecting rod, said left lateral connecting rod having a first end and a second end, said second end coupled to said second end of said upper left rod;
• and
• a lower transverse extended part, said lower transverse extended part having a right side and a left side, said first end of said right lateral connecting rod coupled to said right side of said lower transverse extended part and said first end of said left lateral connecting rod coupled to said left side of said lower transverse extended part;
• a connecting member, said connecting member disposed through said bore of said central nonrotating part of said gearbox and having an upper end coupled to said actuator and a lower end coupled to said support frame;
• said support frame movable to said second upper position in response to a force imparted to it by said actuator through said connecting member.

An apparatus for positioning a hay rake, the hay rake including a gearbox with a central nonrotating part, a peripheral rotating part, and rake arms attached to the peripheral rotating part, the central nonrotating part defining a bore therethrough, comprising:

• an actuator, said actuator mounted above said gearbox;
• a support frame, said support frame mounted below said gearbox and movable between a first lower position and a second upper position, said support frame including:
• an upper central part, said upper central part coupled to a lower end of said gearbox and defining a central bore therethrough, said connecting member extending through said bore;
• a lower central part, said lower central part slidably received within said upper central part and coupled to said lower end of said connecting member;
• a right central connecting rod, said right central connecting rod having a first end and a second end and said right central connecting rod coupled at its first end to said lower central part;
• a left central connecting rod, said left central connecting rod having a first end and a second end and said left central connecting rod coupled at its first end to said lower central part;
• an upper right rod, said upper right rod having a first end, a second end, and a transverse pin disposed between said first end and said second end, said first end coupled to an upper end of said upper central part and said transverse pin received within a bore defined by said second end of said right central connecting rod;
• an upper left rod, said upper left rod having a first end, a second end, and a transverse pin disposed between said first end and said second end, said first end coupled to an upper end of said upper central part and said transverse pin received within a bore defined by said second end of said left central connecting rod;
• a right lateral part, said right lateral part having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end coupled to said second end of said upper right rod;
• a left lateral part, said left lateral part having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end coupled to said second end of said upper left rod;
• a lower right rod, said lower right rod having a first end and a second end, said first end of said lower right rod coupled to a lower end of said upper central part and said second end coupled to said lower end of said right lateral part;
• and
• a lower left rod, said lower left rod having a first end and a second end, said first end of said lower left rod coupled to a lower end of said upper central part and said second end coupled to said lower end of said left lateral part;
• a connecting member, said connecting member disposed through said bore of said central nonrotating part of said gearbox and having an upper end coupled to said actuator and a lower end coupled to said support frame;
• said support frame movable to said second upper position in response to a force imparted to it by said actuator through said connecting member.