# US 8,146,338 B1 · Adjustable rake for feed material with multiple width adjustment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,146,338 B1 - Document ID: US8146338B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/947,519 - Filed: 2010-11-16 - Granted: 2012-04-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-16 - Assignees: Kuhn North America, Inc. - Inventors: George Cicci; William Bassett; Jeffrey Marggi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8146338B1 ## CPC - A01D 78/146: {in a horizontal plane} - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING ## Abstract An adjustable rake for raking agricultural products includes a wheeled cart configured to be pulled in a direction of travel on a surface of travel and first and second rake arm positioners coupled to the wheeled cart and configured to translate in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the wheeled cart. First and second front rake arm assemblies are pivotably coupled to the first and second rake arm positioners, respectively. First and second inner rear supports are included, and each of the first and second inner rear supports is pivotably coupled to the wheeled cart and is configured to pivot as a result of translation of the first and second rake arm positioners in the direction transverse to the direction of travel of the wheeled cart. The rake may include optional splitter wheels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustable rake for raking agricultural products, the adjustable rake comprising: a wheeled cart configured to be pulled in a direction of travel on a surface of travel, the wheeled cart including a central frame and transport wheels attached to the central frame; first and second rake arm positioners coupled to the wheeled cart and configured to translate in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the wheeled cart; first and second front rake arm assemblies pivotably coupled to the first and second rake arm positioners, respectively; a first rear rake arm assembly pivotably coupled about a same first axis to the first front rake arm assembly, and a second rear rake arm assembly pivotably coupled about a same second axis to the second front rake arm assembly, the first and second axes being perpendicular to both the direction of travel of the wheeled cart and to the direction transverse to the direction of travel of the wheeled cart; an adjustment link coupled to the first rear rake arm assembly which is configured to control a distance of an end of the respective first rear rake arm assembly from a center line of the cart; and first and second inner supports, each of the first and second inner supports being pivotably coupled to the wheeled cart and being configured to pivot as a result of translation of the first and second rake arm positioners in the direction transverse to the direction of travel of the wheeled cart, and wherein a width between the first and second front rake arm assemblies is adjustable independent of a width between the first and second rear rake arm assemblies, and wherein the adjustment link maintains the distance of the end of the first rear rake arm assembly from the center line of the cart at a substantially constant value while the first rake arm positioner translates from a first position to a second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rear rake arm assemblies pivot, relative to the front rake arm assemblies as a result of the translation of the first and second rake arm positioners. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment link is pivotably coupled to the first rear rake arm assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment link maintains the distance of the end of the first rear rake arm assembly from the center line of the cart at a substantially constant value while the first rake arm positioner translates from a first position to a second position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The adjustable rake according to claim 4, wherein the first position is a transport position, and the second position is a work position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The adjustable rake according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment link is pivotably coupled to the first inner support. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The adjustable rake according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment link is coupled to the cart independently of the first inner support. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adjustable rake according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment link is pivotably coupled directly between the cart and the first rear rake arm assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The adjustable rake according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment link is coupled between the first rear rake arm assembly and a longitudinal member that extends from the cart. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The adjustable rake according to claim 9, wherein the adjustment link is pivotably coupled to the longitudinal member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment link is a turnbuckle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing device configured to bias a front end of the first front rake arm assembly vertically with respect to the surface of travel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rake arm positioners translate in response to movement of at least one hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The adjustable rake according to claim 13, wherein the first and second rake arm positioners both translate in response to movement of the same hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The adjustable rake according to claim 13, wherein the at least one hydraulic cylinder comprises first and second hydraulic cylinders, and the first and second hydraulic cylinders are configured to move in synchronization with each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The adjustable rake according to claim 13, wherein the at least one hydraulic cylinder comprises first and second hydraulic cylinders, and the first and second hydraulic cylinders are configured to periodically rephase so as to move in synchronization with each other. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rake arm positioners translate in response to movement of at least one mechanical linkage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, wherein the first rake arm positioner is translatable independently of the second rake arm positioner. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, further comprising a tongue connected to the cart and configured to couple the cart to a vehicle to pull the cart, wherein at least one auxiliary rake wheel is connected to the tongue independently of the rake first and second rake arm assemblies. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The adjustable rake according to claim 19, wherein the position of the at least one auxiliary rake wheel relative to the tongue is adjustable in the direction transverse to the direction of travel of the wheeled cart. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, wherein the wheeled cart is supported on the surface of travel via a first wheel having a first axis of rotation and a second wheel having a second axis of rotation parallel to and non-colinear with the first axis of rotation, the first and second wheels being linked to each other as a tandem axle arrangement that rotates around a third axis that is non-colinear with either of the first and second axes of rotation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The adjustable rake according to claim 21, further comprising a limiter that limits a range of rotation of the tandem axle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The adjustable rake according to claim 22, wherein the limiter is adjustable between at least first and second positions such that the range of rotation of the tandem axle is greater when the limiter is in the second position than when the limiter is in the first position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The adjustable rake according to claim 23, wherein the range of rotation of the tandem axle when the limiter is in the first position is zero, such that the tandem axle cannot rotate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, further comprising at least one rake arm pivotably coupled to a first rake arm assembly and coupled to at least one rake wheel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The adjustable rake according to claim 25, wherein each of the at least one rake arm is coupled to only one rake wheel. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The adjustable rake according to claim 25, wherein the first rake arm assembly is configured to move from a work position to a transport position by elevating relative to the surface of travel. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The adjustable rake according to claim 25, further comprising a protective shell disposed on the at least one rake arm. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The adjustable rake according to claim 25, further comprising a bumper disposed on the at least one rake arm and configured to abut a portion of the first rake arm assembly while the first rake arm assembly is in a transport position and to separate from the first rake arm assembly while the first rake arm assembly is in a work position. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The adjustable rake according to claim 29, wherein the bumper abuts the at least one rake arm to limit movement of the at least one rake arm in a direction the rake arm moves in transitioning from the work position to the transport position. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The adjustable rake according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second inner supports is pivotably coupled to one of the first and second front rake arm assemblies.