Horse hay-rakes gather the hay preparatory to its
removal from the meadows. That represented in Fig. 92 may be used without lifting the
rake or stopping the horse. It has a double row of teeth, pointing each way, which are
brought alternately into use as the rake makes a semi-revolution at each forming windrow,
in its onward progress. They are kept flat upon the ground by the pressure of the square
frame on their points, beneath the handles; but, as soon as a load of hay has collected the
handles are slightly raised, throwing this frame backward off the points, and missing them
enough for the forward row to catch the earth. The continued motion of the horse causes
the teeth to rise and revolve, throwing the backward teeth foremost, over the windrow. In
this way each set of teeth is alternately brought into operation.
An improved form of rake is represented in Fig. 93. It is
arranged with a sulky, so that the operator can ride. The spring-teeth gather the hay and
retain it until the driver, by pulling the vertical lever, lifts the teeth and discharges it. The
horizontal bars projecting through the teeth keep the hay from rising with them, thus
insuring its complete discharge.
Fig. 94 shows another form of spring-tooth rake, the teeth
of which are made of stiff, elastic wire, on the points of which the rake runs; they bend in
passing an obstruction, and spring back into their place again. The rake is unloaded by
simply lifting by the lower handles, the upper ones being intended for holding and guiding;
the rake is light, and about one-half the weight sustained by the horse.
Your Comments Welcomed! Copyright © 1995 Roger Corrie