Haymaking machines

Claim 1

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1 A haymaking machine of the kind set forth, wherein said frame comprises two beams to which rotary mountings of the two rake members are respectively secured, the 75 two frame beams being rigidly interconnected in such a way that their longitudinal axes or centre lines are at substantially 900 to one another in the region of interconnection 80 2 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two frame beams both extend forwardly with respect to the intended direction of operative travel of the machine from the locations at which they 85 are secured to the rotary mountings of the respective rake members. 3 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the longitudinal axes or centre lines of the two frame beams are 90 contained in a plane which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the two rake members. 4 A haymaking machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the two frame 95 beams are substantially equal in length. A haymaking machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, when the machine is raised clear of contact with the ground, the two rake members are carried 100 solely by the corresponding two frame beams. 6 A haymaking machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the two frame beams are both secured to a gear box, said 105 gear box having a rotary input shaft whose longitudinal axis is coincident with the longitudinal axis or centre line of one of the two frame beams at least in the region of interconnection between those two beams 110 7 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the two frame beams are hollow and said gear box comprises two drivable output shafts that are located internally of the respective hollow beams 115 8 A haymaking machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the two frame beams are pivotable together about a shaft, means being provided to retain them in any chosen one of a plurality of different 120 positions about the longitudinal axis of that shaft. 9 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 6 or 7 or in claim 8 when read as appendant to either claim 6 or claim 7, 125 wherein said gear box is disposed wholly or principally between two plates which are secured to the coupling member or trestle. A haymaking machine as claimed in 1,573,852 1,573,852 claim 9, wherein said two plates are in parallel relationship with one another, both of them being perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the two rake members. 11 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the two plates are interconnected by coupling supports whith carry coupling elements constructed and arranged for co-operation with the lower lifting links of the three-point lifting device or hitch of a tractor or other operating vehicle. 12 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 8 or in any one of claims 9 to 11 when read as appendant to claim 8, wherein said shaft about which the two frame beams are together pivotable interconnects said two plates. 13 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 9 or in any one of claims 10 to 12 when read as appendant to claim 9, wherein said two plates carry a pair of upwardly extending lugs that are constructed and arranged to have the upper lifting link of a three-point lifting device or hitch of an operating tractor or other vehicle connected to them. 14 A haymaking machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one freely rotatable tubular supporting member is provided by which the machine can bear upon the ground. A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the or each tubular supporting member is of cylindrical shape and is located to one side of the axis of rotation of the nearest rake member when the machine is viewed from the rear in its intended direction of operative travel. 16 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein a plurality of the tubular supporting members are provided, there being one of them at each side of the axis of rotation of at least one of the rake members when the machine is viewed from the rear in said direction. 17 A haymaking machine as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the or each tubular supporting member is rotatable about an axle shaft which is fastened between two plates that are secured to a shaft embodying the axis of rotation of the corresponding rake member. 18 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein said plates project forwardly from said shaft, or from the corresponding shafts, with respect to the intended direction of operative travel of the machine. 19 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the two plates to which the axle shaft is secured, or each pair of plates to which the corresponding axle shafts are secured, are rigidly 65 interconnected in the regions of their peripheries by an upwardly extending rim. A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 16 or in any one of claims 17 to 19 when read as appendant to claim 16, 70 wherein each tubular supporting member is arranged so as to be bodily displaceable about the axis of rotation of the corresponding rake member, means being provided to retain each tubular supporting 75 member bodily in a chosen position about the corresponding axis of rotation. 21 A haymaking machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises at least one crop guide member 80 which is adjustable in position, relative to the remainder of the machine, by way of a pivotable quadrilateral linkage. 22 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 21, wherein parts affording two of the 85 pivot axes of said pivotable quadrilateral linkage are bodily fixed in place with respect to said frame of the machine. 23 A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 22, wherein an arm is pivotally 90 connected to each of said two parts, the ends of the two arms which are remote from those parts being connected by further pivots to a coupling bracket. 24 A haymaking machine as claimed in 95 any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein said crop guide member is connected to one element of the pivotable quadrilateral linkage in such a way as to be fixed in position relative to that element in at least 100 a substantially horizontal direction. A haymaking machine as claimed in claim 24 when read as appendant to claim 23, wherein said element is afforded by the coupling bracket 105 26 A haymaking machine as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the crop guide member is freely displaceable relative to the pivotable quadrilateral linkage in a substantially vertical direction 110 27 A haymaking machine as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein the crop guide member is arranged wholly or principally at one side of at least one of the rake members 115 28 A haymaking machine as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein the crop guide member is arranged wholly or principally rearwardly of at least one of the rake members with respect to the intended 120 direction of operative travel of the machine. 29 A haymaking machine as claimed in 1,573,852 any one of claims 21 to 28, wherein the pivotable quadrilateral linkage is provided with means to retain it in any chosen one of a plurality of different positions of angularity. A haymaking machine as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 29, wherein the pivotable quadrilateral linkage is in the form of a parallelogram linkage. 31 A haymaking machine as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 30, wherein the pivotable quadrilateral linkage extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axis or rotation of at least one of the rake members. HASELTINE, LAKE & CO, Chartered Patent Agents, Hazlitt House, 28, Southamption Buildings, Chancery Lane, London WC 2 A IAT also Temple Gate House, Temple Gate, Bristol BSI 6 PT and 9 Park Square, Leeds LSI 2 LH, Yorks. Agents for the Applicants. Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1980. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC 2 A l AY, from which copies may be obtained.