Raking implements

Claim 2

A raking implement for connection to a prime mover, comprising a frame having a main frame beam and a plurality of rake wheels rotatably mounted on said main beam, coupling means on said main beam to which additional frame parts are selectively connected to said main beam whereby the working positions of said wheels can be changed, said coupling means comprising at leAst three spaced apart coupling points on said main frame beam, two of said coupling points being located adjacent the leading and rearmost ends of said main frame beam and said beam extending obliquely transverse with respect to the direction of operative travel, a third coupling point being located between said leading and rearmost coupling points, attaching means on said frame for connecting the implement to the prime mover and said attaching means being interconnected with at least one of said two coupling points adjacent the leading and rearmost ends of the main beam.

Claim 3

An implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said additional frame parts comprise arched beam means that are connected to said attaching means.

Claim 4

An implement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said arched beam means is connected to the front and rear coupling points, said beam means including two coupling beams having their foremost ends connected to one another, the trailing ends of said coupling beams being connected to the leading and rearmost points of said main frame beam.

Claim 5

An implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of said coupling beams has a trailing end connected to said rearmost coupling point and being contained in a substantially vertical plane that extends substantially parallel to the direction of operative travel of said implement.

Claim 6

An implement as claimed in claim 4, wherein a ground wheel is connected to said frame adjacent the foremost ends of said coupling beams, said ground wheel being rotatably mounted in said frame and being angularly adjustable about a substantially vertical axis.

Claim 7

An implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein a ground wheel is connected to said main frame beam adjacent the leading coupling point with respect to the direction of operative travel.

Claim 8

An implement as claimed in claim 6, wherein a further ground wheel is rotatably mounted on said main beam and is angularly adjustable about a substantially vertical axis with respect to said main frame beam.

Claim 9

An implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said two coupling beams are releasably connected to the leading and rearmost coupling points of said main frame beam with fastening means.

Claim 10

An implement as claimed in claim 1, and further including a bearing on said main frame beam and a ground wheel is supported by said bearing adjacent one end of said main frame beam.

Claim 11

An implement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said additional frame parts include two coupling beams connected to said leading and rearmost coupling points and said bearing is located adjacent the trailing end of one of said coupling beams, the last mentioned coupling beam being contained in a substantially vertical plane extending substantially parallel to the intended direction of operative travel.

Claim 12

An implement as claimed in claim 10, wherein said ground wheel is turnable in said bearing and locking means is supported on said frame to secure the ground wheel in any one of a plurality of different angular settings about a substantially vertical axis relative to said implement.

Claim 13

An implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main frame beam is located to the rear of the rake wheels, said additional frame parts including two coupling beams that are connected to at least two of said coupling points and arched forwardly over said rake wheels from connections to said main frame beam.

Claim 14

An implement as claimed in claim 12, wherein said coupling beams are connected to one another at their other ends and their junction is located at substantially the same horizontal level as said main frame beam.

Claim 15

A raking implement for connection to a prime mover, comprising a main frame beam and a plurality of rake wheels rotatably mounted on said beam, coupling means on said main frame beam selectively connecting additional frame parts to said beam, said frame parts comprising two arched arms connected to said coupling means and said arms extending over and above said rake wheels and being interconnected to one Another at their forward ends, a first arched arm secured to a leading coupling point of said coupling means and the other arched arm secured to a rearmost coupling point of said coupling means, said main frame beam being positioned to extend obliquely relative to the intended direction of operative travel, ground wheels supported on said main beam and located immediately below the connections of the ends of said arched arms with the coupling points on said main frame beam, attaching means associated with the forward portion of said arms for connection thereof to the prime mover.

Claim 16

A raking implement for connection to a prime mover, comprising a main frame beam and a plurality of rake wheels rotatably mounted on said beam, coupling means on said main frame beam selectively connecting additional frame parts to said beam, said frame parts comprising two arched arms connected to said coupling means and said arms extending over and above said rake wheels and being interconnected to one Another at their forward ends, a first arched arm secured to a leading coupling point of said coupling means and the other arched arm secured to a rearmost coupling point of said coupling means, said main frame beam being positioned to extend obliquely relative to the intended direction of operative travel, ground wheels supported on said main beam and located immediately below the connections of the ends of said arched arms with the coupling points on said main frame beam, attaching means associated with the forward portion of said arms for connection thereof to the prime mover.

Claim 17

A raking implement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the forward ends of said arched arms are secured in brackets on a vertical bearing of said attaching means and said bearing rotatably mounts a leading ground wheel.