Rake implement with moveable tongue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024065166-A1
Application number	US-202217822924-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 29, 2022
Priority date	Aug 29, 2022
Publication date	Feb 29, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A center delivery rake implement includes a tongue movably attached to a frame for movement about a vertical axis. A tongue actuator interconnects the tongue and the frame. The tongue actuator is selectively controllable to position the tongue relative to the frame such that the central tongue axis may be non-parallel relative to the central longitudinal axis of the frame, whereby a lateral position of the frame relative to the tow vehicle is adjustable during operation. An implement controller may control the tongue actuator to position the frame in a desired position based on a determined location of an existing windrow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A rake implement for moving cut crop material laterally to form a windrow, the rake implement comprising:
a frame extending along a central longitudinal axis parallel to a direction of travel, with the central longitudinal axis bisecting the frame to define a first lateral side of the frame and a second lateral side of the frame; a first arm attached to the frame and supporting a first rake system disposed on the first side of the frame; a second arm attached to the frame and supporting a second rake system disposed on the second side of the frame; wherein the first arm and the second arm are arranged to position the first rake system and the second rake system in a substantially V-shaped configuration to form a center delivery windrow therebetween; a tongue extending along a central tongue axis between a rearward end of the tongue that is movably attached to the frame for movement about a vertical axis, and a forward end of the tongue configured for attachment to a tow vehicle; a tongue actuator interconnecting the tongue and the frame, wherein the tongue actuator is selectively controllable to move the tongue relative to the frame whereby a lateral position of the frame relative to the tow vehicle is adjustable.

2 . The rake implement set forth in claim 1 , wherein the tongue actuator is one of a linear actuator or a rotary actuator.

3 . The rake implement set forth in claim 1 , wherein the tongue actuator is a linear actuator operable to extend and retract.

4 . The rake implement set forth in claim 3 , wherein the tongue actuator is a double acting hydraulic cylinder.

5 . The rake implement set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an implement controller including a processor and a memory having a position control algorithm stored thereon, wherein the processor is operable to execute the position control algorithm to communicate a control signal to the tongue actuator to effectuate movement of the tongue actuator.

6 . The rake implement set forth in claim 5 , wherein the processor is operable to execute the position control algorithm to determine a location of at least one incoming windrow and control the tongue actuator to position the frame relative to the incoming windrow such that an outgoing windrow is positioned along a desired path.

7 . The rake implement set forth in claim 6 , wherein the at least one incoming windrow includes a first incoming windrow and a second incoming windrow, and wherein processor is operable to execute the position control algorithm to position the frame, via the tongue actuator, between the first incoming windrow and the second incoming windrow, such that the first rake system engages the first incoming windrow and the second rake system engages the second incoming windrow.

8 . The rake implement set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first arm is moveably attached to the frame via a first linkage system.

9 . The rake implement set forth in claim 8 , wherein the first linkage system is selectively configurable to position the first arm relative to the frame in a transport position of the first arm in which the first arm is positioned on the first lateral side of the frame substantially parallel with the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the first linkage system is selectively configurable to position the first arm relative to the frame in a first operating position of the first arm.

10 . The rake implement set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second arm is moveably attached to the frame via a second linkage system.

11 . The rake implement set forth in claim 10 , wherein the second linkage system is selectively configurable to position the second arm relative to the frame in a transport position of the second arm in which the second arm is positioned on the second lateral side of the frame substantially parallel with the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the second linkage system is selectively configurable to position the second arm relative to the frame in a first operating position of the second arm.

12 . A rake implement for moving cut crop material laterally to form a windrow, the rake implement comprising:
a tow vehicle; a frame extending along a central longitudinal axis parallel to a direction of travel, with the central longitudinal axis bisecting the frame to define a first lateral side of the frame and a second lateral side of the frame; a first arm attached to the frame and supporting a first rake system disposed on the first side of the frame; a second arm attached to the frame and supporting a second rake system disposed on the second side of the frame; wherein the first arm and the second arm are arranged to position the first rake system and the second rake system in a substantially V-shaped configuration to form a center delivery windrow therebetween; a tongue extending along a central tongue axis between a rearward end of the tongue that is movably attached to the frame for movement about a first vertical axis, and a forward end of the tongue that is moveably attached to the tow vehicle for movement about a second vertical axis; a tongue actuator interconnecting the tongue and the frame, wherein the tongue actuator is selectively controllable to position the tongue relative to the frame such that the central tongue axis is non-parallel relative to the central longitudinal axis of the frame, whereby a lateral position of the frame relative to the tow vehicle is adjustable; an implement controller including a processor and a memory having a position control algorithm stored thereon, wherein the processor is operable to execute the position control algorithm to communicate a control signal to the tongue actuator to effectuate movement of the tongue actuator based on a lateral position of at least one incoming windrow.

13 . The rake implement set forth in claim 12 , wherein the at least one incoming windrow includes a first incoming windrow and a second incoming windrow, and wherein processor is operable to execute the position control algorithm to position the frame, via the tongue actuator, between the first incoming windrow and the second incoming windrow, such that the first rake system engages the first incoming windrow and the second rake system engages the second incoming windrow.

14 . The rake implement set forth in claim 12 , wherein the tongue actuator is one of a linear actuator or a rotary actuator.

15 . The rake implement set forth in claim 12 , wherein the tongue actuator is a linear actuator operable to extend and retract.

16 . The rake implement set forth in claim 15 , wherein the tongue actuator is a double acting hydraulic cylinder.

17 . The rake implement set forth in claim 12 , wherein the first arm is moveably attached to the frame via a first linkage system.

18 . The rake implement set forth in claim 17 , wherein the processor is operable to execute the position control algorithm to control a position of the first linkage system to position the first arm relative to the frame.

19 . The rake implement set forth in claim 12 , wherein the second arm is moveably attached to the frame via a second linkage system.

20 . The rake implement set forth in claim 17 , wherein the processor is operable to execute the position control algorithm to control a position of the second linkage system to position the second arm relative to the frame.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Schinstock William P

Classifications

• A01D78/14 Primary

  the tines rotating about a substantially horizontal axis · CPC title