Back to results
US 8,997,447 B2Granted
Suspension system for wheel rakes
AssigneeForage Innovations B.V.
InventorsMichael Yaske, Kent L. Thompson, Kent Van Kooten, Rustin V. Bentzinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspension system for forage rakes having at least one floating forage rake wheel has a hydraulic cylinder is used for both lift and suspension of the floating forage rake wheel. A hydraulic accumulator provides expansion room for hydraulic fluid to move in and out of the hydraulic cylinder during suspension.
Claims11
A rake apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of rake wheels;
- a tool bar;
- a plurality of arms, each arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each arm being operatively pivotally attached to the tool bar, each rake wheel being operatively rotatably attached to the second end of a corresponding arm;
- a closed-loop hydraulic lift/flotation circuit comprising:
- a hydraulic accumulator;
- and
- a plurality of hydraulic lift/flotation cylinders, each hydraulic lift/flotation cylinder having a first part thereof operatively pivotally attached to the tool bar and a second part thereof operatively attached to an arm to carry a portion of the weight of the rake wheel and having a port, the hydraulic accumulator being fluidly connected to each hydraulic lift/flotation cylinder by its port, the hydraulic lift/flotation cylinder, port, and the accumulator being arranged to lift the rake wheel upon flow of hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to the port and the hydraulic cylinder.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.