UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BERKELEY 4, CALIFORNIA A TRANSPORT BUCK RAKE C. E. BARBEE 1 and C. LORENZEN, JR. 2 A rugged , flexible transport buck rake to use on diversified and dairy farms for carrying hay from field to barn, stack, or other destination, has been developed by the Division of Agricul- tural Engineering of the University of California. The complete assembly, mounted on a truck, is shown in the photograph on page 1. Its particu- lar type of mounting on the rear of a truck chas- sis allows lifting of the load sufficiently to prevent dragging of the hay, provides clear vision ahead, and permits easy maneuvering of the the truck are required, and the rake may be re- moved readily to allow use of the truck for other work. Details of the lifting mechanism and controls are shown on page 3. The brake drum, D, is removed and the brake-band cam, C, is reversed; the drum is then replaced. This permits the bands on one drum to expand while those on the other drum are loos- ened. The control lever, H, moved forward, ro- tates the torque tube, A, and levers, B, to tighten the band, F, and loosen the band, G. This truck around buildings, through gates, etc. This construction also allows proper functioning of the engine radiator by leaving the front end of the truck unobstructed. The rake is loaded by backing into the windrow or shock. Larger loads may be handled by previously bunching the hay in- to properly sized shocks. The rake is designed for a ls-ton truck, and use of a lighter chassis is not recommended. Lift is obtained through a Model A Ford drive shaft, differential, and rear axle assembly. This as- sembly is set on top of the truck frame as shown in the rake plan drawing on page 2, and is driven by power from the motor. The drive shown is by chain and sprocket from a power take-off on the side of the transmission, although other methods, such as a jack shaft and pulley driven by the fan belt, may be employed. No other changes in a Associate in the Experiment Station. 2 Associate in Agricultural Engineering and Associate in the Experiment Station. transmits power to the drum, D, to which the rake lift-cable spool, J, is welded. Movement of the control lever backward releases the brake drum, K, and permits lowering of the rake against the brak- ing action of the band, G_. It will be noted that the levers, B, are placed up and down on the oppo- site ends of the torque tube, A, so that the link, E, is in tension on the side on which the load is applied. This makes the light link sufficiently strong for the applied loads and prevents its buckling. Drive ratios should be such that the lift-cable spool does not turn faster than 200 revolutions per minute. A feature of the rake is its mounting on the truck chassis. The short side arms shown in the rake plan (page 2) allow the teeth to rest flat on the ground and make the rake more or less flexible when riding over the ground during load- ing. In lifting, the rake head rises first until the side arms contact the head crossbeam and then the whole rake comes up. This permits control of [1] >. ^ Dotted lines show/vke in raised position. \\\ Uftorm. Lift chain Side teet. Rake teeth. Rake 5/de LT/evetion Rake mount. Side arm. ^£"*2x 7" H.B.Steel p/afe Rake head cross beam. ^c IS^^ ^Ld Fin Tooth Point Detail Lift cable spool J lAtfzTC: -7-0- - 9 :oi Drive shaft and differential 'assbity. Rake Pfo/i Head frome x \ msm Reot lift yoke. Rake supporibndd^-^ o IOJ IUJ &U ufl EJ lo-o Rake End Elevation Lift Mechanism and Control. Side teeth\ i\8" Rake teeih 2" plywood Rake Frame Detail. ^rdia hoie We/d~. Lift arm. Top bracket. F/a/tyed 1 Co//ar. 2. required. qr std.pipe. -Lift arm drat Lift Arm Bracket Assembly §'dia. holes for boiling bracket to track frame. 2 standard pipe. Note Both mounting brackets are tve/ded to ends ofth/splpo w/i/ch extern/* across cnoss/s frame. J- dia hole. welded to verfico/ '/nemier Mounting Brocket -g" N.R. Steel 2. re aw red Roke frame mounted on 1% $td. £'d,*/>o/<L L- dia hole Rake Support Bracket f H-R. steel 2 Required Bracket Deto/'h. Weld 'dia H.R rod. 4-Jia hole 57 £ dia. M rod Jf\ f rp Uz' Rear Lift Yoke Hote. rront Lift Yoke same aarear wiltiout 2 required grab link plole. 2 read. Rake Support Yoke 2 repaired. Yoke Detai/s. the angle of contact of the rake points with the ground to obtain clean pickup of the hay. The rake may be raised to an angle of approximately 45 degrees, which allows easy travel without dan- ger of loss of the load, although the truck may be operated with the rake in any position. Dimensions of the rake and lift members are shown in the drawings (pages 2-5) and listed in the bill of materials, on page 6. The teeth are tapered from 3x4 inches at the roots to 2-inch diameter (round) at the points. The type and shape of the tooth points are im- portant since they affect the power necessary to push the rake into or under the load, and also the thoroughness with which the hay is picked up, especially when loading from the windrow. Several types of points were tested, and it was found that either sharpening the end of the tooth itself or using the cone-shaped steel point shown in the tooth-point detail (page 2) gave the best results. Both enter the hay easily. The metal point is recommended since it does a much cleaner job in picking up the hay; the steel fin welded to the underside clings to the ground closely. It has some tendency to dig into the ground, especially if the earth is loose or the field very uneven. The metal point reduces wear of, or damage to, the rake teeth. The slatted head frame is mounted directly on the lift chain to make a clean assembly and pre- vent hay getting caught in the rake head. HINTS ON CONSTRUCTION Use of the plywood sheet in place of diagonal bracing results in a strong, flexible rake frame. It is important to secure all nuts on bolts through wooden members. A good method is to place cut washers under the bolt head and nut, then add a lock washer and another nut. Note that reinforcing bolts are placed in the rear of the teeth to prevent splitting. The mounting brackets should be placed as far forward as possible on the truck chassis. This will usually bring the brackets up against the rear spring hangers. If wire-cable blocks are not available, wire- cable sheaves may be purchased and the blocks made up. The use of a spark arrester on the exhaust as shown in the photograph is recommended. The 1/8 x 2 x 7 inch steel plate fastened to the bottom of the side arm, as shown in the rake side elevation (page 2) , contacts the hardwood block shown in the yoke details (page 5) , and prevents wear on the side arms and crossbeam. BILL OF MATERIALS Part Material Number required Thickness Width Length Rake tooth Rake tooth Rake tooth Head frame Head frame Side arm Lift arm Tooth support , front . . Tooth support , rear . . Rake brace Side-arm block Side-tooth support . . . Side-tooth support . . . Side-arm plate Side-tooth braces . . . Mounting bracket pipe Frame mount Lift-arm strut Torque-arm, hoist control Control lever Control link Hoist-control clevises . Hoist-control links . . Cable blocks Hoist cable Hoist chain wood* wood* wood* wood wood wood* wood* wood* wood* waterproof plywood hardwood angle iron angle iron hot-rolled steel pipe pipe pipe pipe pipe pipe pipe steel cold-rolled steel wire cable straight-link coil chain 11 2 2 2 8 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 right , 1 right, 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 2 5 1 1 left 1 left 3" 2" 2" 2" 1" 2" 2" 2" 4" 1/2" 1" 3/16" 3/16" 1/8" 3/4" nominal 2" nominal 1-1/2" nominal 1-1/4" nominal 3/4" nominal 1/2" nominal 3/8" nominal 5/16", threaded 5/l6" diameter for 5/16" cable 5/l6" diameter 5/l6" diameter 4" 4" 4" 4" 6" 6" 6" 8" 4" 26" 4" 2" 2" 2" 12' 9' 7' 9' 5' 6" rough 6 ' rough 10* 10- 10' 8" 33" 42" 7" 36" 48" 60" 48" 49" 26" 33" 12" 45' *Vertical-grain Douglas-fir or equal, [6] BILL OF MATERIALS (Cont. Material for built-up parts Stock for Material Thickness Width Length Mounting brackets . . . hot-rolled steel 5/16" 5-1/2" 17" Mounting brackets . . . hot-rolled steel 5/16" 2" 11" Mounting brackets . . . hot-rolled steel 5/16" 4-1/2" 8" (cut di- agonally) Mounting bracket collars hot-rolled steel 1/4" 4" diameter (2 required) Lift-cable spool . . . standard pipe, black 4" nominal ... 9" Lift-cable spool flange hot-rolled steel 1/4" 7" diameter • • • Flanged collars .... hot-rolled steel , round 2-3/4" diameter 1" Flanged collars .... hot-rolled steel , flat 1/4" 4" diameter . . . Lift-arm brackets . . . hot-rolled steel , flat 1/4" 2-1/2" 24" Lift-arm brackets . . . hot-rolled steel , flat 3/8" 1-1/2" 4" Drive- shaft bolts . . hot-rolled steel , round 1/2" diameter . • . 14" Differential U bolts, hot-rolled steel , round 5/8" diameter . . . 30" Rake- support yokes . . hot-rolled steel , flat 1/4" 2" 36" Rake- support yokes. . . hot-rolled steel , round 1/2" diameter ... 11" Rake- support brackets . hot-rolled steel , flat 3/8" 2" 20" Rake-support brackets . hot-rolled steel , flat 3/8" 3" 14" pipe 1/2" nominal 4" hot -rolled steel , flat 3/8" 3" 8" hot-rolled steel , round 5/8" . . . 48" Head-frame brackets . . hot-rolled steel , flat 1/4" 2" 24" Head-frame brackets . . hot-rolled steel , round 5/l6" diameter ... 4" hot-rolled steel, plate 12 gage 24" 30" Tooth-point fins . . . mild steel 1/4" 3/4" 60" Bolts (add miscellaneous nuts, cut washers, lock washers, and cotter pins) Number required Type Diameter Length 32 carriage 1/4" 3" 4 carriage 1/2" 5" 11 carriage 1/2" 6" 11 carriage 1/2" 8" 4 machine 1/4" 3-1/2" 4 machine 1/4" 4" 8 machine 5/16" 2-1/4" 11 machine 5/16" 5" 2 machine 3/8" 2" 8 machine 3/8" 2-1/2" 2 machine 3/8" 3" 8 machine 3/8" 7" 4 machine 5/8" 5" 2 machine 3/4" 4-1/2" 8 national fine cap screw 3/8" 1" 8 national fine hex. nuts 3/8" • • • 2 cotter pins 1/4" 2" 2 cable clamps 5/16" 11 flathead rivets 3/16" 2" 4m-10, -43(7970) [7] Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of California, Davis Libraries http://archive.org/details/transportbuckrak21barb