GB701612A - Improvements in hay or crop loaders - Google Patents

Abstract

701,612. Hay-loaders. BAMFORDS, Ltd. June 16, 1952 [June 22, 1951 ; Oct. 18, 1951], Nos. 14846/51 and 24307/51. Class 6 (3). [Also in Group XXX] A crop-loader, of the type having an inclined trough 10 with crop-advancing means 16 therein and a discharge platform, or cratch, 22, forming an extension of the upper end of the trough, is characterized in that the cratch is pivoted to the trough about a horizontal axis 27 and contains its own crop-advancing means separate from those in the trough. The main crop-advancing means may comprise longitudinal rake-bars 16 mounted on cranks 13, 14, the lower one of which is driven from the land wheels 19 through a chain-drive 21. Alternatively an endless slatconveyer may be used. The crop-advancing means in the cratch may be of slat-conveyer or reciprocating-rake type and is driven from the upper crank 13 through belts 41, 44, which may be associated with a clutch-device for disabling the cratch-conveyer at will. In a modification, the cratch floor is reciprocated. The cratch may be adjusted about the axis 27 by a lever 33 slidable in a frame 31 and lockable by stops (not shown) on a quadrant 35. As shown, the belts 41, 44 pass around pulleys co-axial with the pivotal axis of the cratch, but where this is not so, means, such as expanding belt-pulleys, are provided to maintain the drive in all positions of the cratch. In one construction, the cratch tapers rearwardly and the slat-conveyer therein passes through slots in the side walls. A cover may be provided for the cratch' and a further cover may be placed over its conveyer when disabled.