Hay-tedders are used to turn the hay as it lies on
the meadow, in order to dry it preparatory to stacking. In the tedder illustrated in Fig. 89
the main wheels contain a gear-wheel driving, through the medium of pinions, cranked
shafts carrying forks. Each fork- is connected at its centre and at its end to a crank upon
the upper, and one upon the lower, shaft. The upper shaft is operated by gears connected
with the lower one. The whole framework carrying the forks and gearing swings upon the
bearing, supporting it on the axle. The draught-frame is secured to the latter by separate
bearings ; hence to alter the distance at which the forks approach the surface it is necessary
only to change the position of the fork-carrying frame with relation to the draught-frame.
This is accomplished by the lever shown above the drivers seat. The motion of the forks is
closely similar to that performed by hand in tossing the hay. English machines usually have
two separately-rotating frames carrying forks, each fork occupying one-half of the width
between the wheels. The direction of motion of the forks may be reversed, so that, after
the hay has been strewed in the usual way, it may be thrown backward.
A machine of this
class is shown in Fig. 90.
Fig. 91 represents an American hay-tedder having revolving
forks. The fork-shaft is revolved by multiplying gear from the wheel-axle. It is furnished
with sixteen forks, attached to a light reel in such a manner that they revolve rapidly, with a
rotary, continuous, and uniform motion. It never clogs, may be easily backed, and
readily passes over ordinary obstructions, without any attention on the part of the
driver.
Hay-tedders should be used on the meadow about three times a day which will enable the
farmer to cut his crop in the morning, and draw it in the same day; giving him, also, more
uniformly dried and better hay.
Your Comments Welcomed! Copyright © 1995 Roger Corrie