CA1065808A - Bale transporting apparatus - Google Patents
Bale transporting apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1065808A CA1065808A CA261,881A CA261881A CA1065808A CA 1065808 A CA1065808 A CA 1065808A CA 261881 A CA261881 A CA 261881A CA 1065808 A CA1065808 A CA 1065808A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- rod
- frame
- bale
- attached
- substantially parallel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A bale transporting trailer device of a type having a mechanism for loading and unloading bales is provided herein. The device includes a frame having transport wheels attached thereto for towing from place to place. A first member is pivotally attached to said frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device, and a first rod is provided having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of the first member. The first rod is substantially perpendicular to the first member and is substantially parallel to the axis, the first rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame. Means are provided for pivoting the first member between a substantially horizontal position, whereby the first rod extends to one side of the frame, and a substantially vertical position, whereby the first rod extends substantially above said frame, whereby a bale engaged by the first rod is movable to and from a position on the ground and a position above said frame. A
second member is provided which is pivotally attached to the frame along an axis which is substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device. A second rod is provided having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of the second member. The second rod is substantially perpendicular to the second member and is substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the second member, the second rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame. Finally, means are provided for pivoting the second member between a substantially horizontal position, whereby the second rod is to the other side of the frame, and a substantial vertical position, whereby the second rod extends substantially above the frame. The first and second members are adjacent to one another, whereby when the first and second members are in their respective substantially vertical positions, bales engaged by the first and second rods are in abutment, thereby to tend to prevent the bales from sliding off the first and second members.
A bale transporting trailer device of a type having a mechanism for loading and unloading bales is provided herein. The device includes a frame having transport wheels attached thereto for towing from place to place. A first member is pivotally attached to said frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device, and a first rod is provided having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of the first member. The first rod is substantially perpendicular to the first member and is substantially parallel to the axis, the first rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame. Means are provided for pivoting the first member between a substantially horizontal position, whereby the first rod extends to one side of the frame, and a substantially vertical position, whereby the first rod extends substantially above said frame, whereby a bale engaged by the first rod is movable to and from a position on the ground and a position above said frame. A
second member is provided which is pivotally attached to the frame along an axis which is substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device. A second rod is provided having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of the second member. The second rod is substantially perpendicular to the second member and is substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the second member, the second rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame. Finally, means are provided for pivoting the second member between a substantially horizontal position, whereby the second rod is to the other side of the frame, and a substantial vertical position, whereby the second rod extends substantially above the frame. The first and second members are adjacent to one another, whereby when the first and second members are in their respective substantially vertical positions, bales engaged by the first and second rods are in abutment, thereby to tend to prevent the bales from sliding off the first and second members.
Description
- This invention relates to a bale loading and unloading device.
With the advent of balers which produce large bales of hay weighing in excess of half of a ton, there has become a genuine need for hay handling equipment which was not needed during an earlier era when only smaller manually manoeuverable bales were the only type being produced. It is especially a problem to load and unload such large bales for transportation over long distances. It is, for example, too time-consuming to transport one bale at a time, espeically by the use of a slow-moving agricultural tractor. Normally, however, only a large agricultural is satisfactory~ for lifting, loading and ~mloading bales because of the large size and weight of the bales themselves. Conse-quently, there has been a need to have specially designed trailers which are normally long and narrow for hauling such bales. There has also needed to be some other equipment available to load such trailers at the point of departure and unload the bales at the point of destination.
Usually suc~ loading and unloading is accomplished by a large tractor with a fork-lift structure attached to its three-point hitch and it is therefore necessary to have such unloading equipment at the point of departure and at the point of destination~
There is consequently a need for a trailer having a self-contained mechanism for loading and unloading a plurality of large bales of hay thereon and therefrom respectively. Some such trailers have been devised, but the only ones which have generated the interest of potential buyers have the disadvantage of belng too expensive because oE the com-plexity thereof. Such trailers also have the disadvantage that they are also expensive to maintain; and, because of the many moving parts thereon, there is an increased danger of breakdowns and a corresponding doubt about their dependability. At least one design of such trailers uses a chain conveyor structure to move each bale to its proper place on the trailer. It has been found, however, that such chain conveyor devices tend to tear up the bales somewhat. This is especially true with respect to large round bales having twine thereon which has rotted through due to .
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long periods of storage. ~len such an exteriorly deteriorated bale is transported by a chain conveyor type of loading device, the outer weathered layer tends to be torn off and is lost. If the bale is then stored outside where it is s~tbject to rain and snow, as is usually the case, then even more of the outer layer of the bale will become weathered and therefore be of less food value to livestock than if the original outermost layer had veen retained.
An ob~ect of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a device for transporting large bales of hay from place to place.
An object of another aspect of the invention is to provide a device for connection to a bale hauling trailer for loading and unload-ing the bales.
An ob~ect of a further aspect of the invention is to provide a bale loading and unloading device which handles bales gently so as to prevent damage to the bales.
An object of still another aspect of the inven~Lon is to pro-vide a bale loading and unloading apparatus which unloads bales to the same relative posltion wlth respect to the plane of the ground as it was before being initially picked up.
An object of a still further aspect of the invention is to provide a device for transporting a plurality of large bales.
An ob~ect of another aspect oE the invention :Ls to provide a bale loading and unl.oa<lLn~ dev:Lce ~or a trailer whi.cll has very few movin~ parts and is cxtremely de~endable.
By a broad aspect o.F the E~rcscn-t :Lnvention, a balc loading and unloading device is provided comprising a frame;
-transpor-t wheels a-ttached to the .Frame for -towing from place to . place; a first member pivotally a-t-tached to the frame a:Long an ~;axis subs-tantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device; a first rod having one end thereof rigidly attached ' ' ' ' ~b .
to one end of the first member, -the first rod being substan~tially perpendicular to the first member and substan-tially parallel to the axis, the first rod being aclap-ted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame; means for pivo-ting -the first member be-tween a substan-tially horizontal pos:i-tion whereby the firs-t rod ex-tends to one side of the frame and a subs-tantially vertical posi-tion whereby the f~irst rod ex-tends substantially above the frame whereby a bale engaged by the first rod is movable to and from a position on the ground and a position above -the frame; a second member pivotally at-tached to the frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direc-tion of travel of the device; a second rod having one end thereof rigidly attached -to one of the second member, the second rod being substantially perpendicular to the second member and subs-tantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the second member, the second rod being adap-ted to be driven into a bale by movement of -the frame; and between a substan-tially horizontal posi-tion whereby the second rod is to the other side of -the frame and a subs-tantially vertical position whereby the second rod extends substan-tially above the frame; wherein the first and second members are adjacent to one another, whereby when the first and second members are in their respective substantially vertical positions, bales engaged by the Pirst and second rods are in abutment, thereby -to tend -to prevent the bales :Prom sliding oPP the Pirs-t and second rods due to clamping action on the bale~ by -the first and second members.
By one variant thereof, the device includes means attached to one oP the first member and -the firs-t rod for preventlng rotation of -the bale wi-th respect to the first rod.
30By a variation thereof, the rotation preventing means comprises a first shaft rigidly attached to the first _3_ .. ,: " .. ~. ~,, . ... " : .
~
nember, the first shaF-t being sui)s-tantially parallel to -the first rod and being located on the same side of the flrs-t member as the first rod, whereby the first shaft is adapted to engage the bale ~7hen -the bale is engaged by the firs-t rod. r By yet ano-ther varian-t, the means for pivoting the first member comprises a double-acting hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected -to the first member a-t one end thereof and pivotally connected to the frame at the o~her end -thereof.
By a modification -thereof, the device includes ~10 means attached to one of the second member and the second rod for preventing rotation of a bale wi-th respect -to -the second rod.
By yet another modification, the device includes a third member P
pivotally attached to the frame along an axis substantially parallel to th~ general direction of travel of the device; a third rod having one èlld thereof rigidly attached to one end of the third member, the third rod being substantially perpendicular to the thlrd member and substan-tially parallel to the pivotal axis of the third member, the third rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the Erame; and means for pivoting the third member between a substantially hori~ontal position whereby the third rod is to one side of the rame and a sub~
stantially vertical position whereby the third rod extends substantially above the frame.
. By yet another variant? the device includes a .Eourtll member pivotally attached to the frame along an ax:ls substant:Lally parallel to the gcneral d:lrection o:l travel oE the clevice; a Eourth rod having one end thereo rigidly attached to one end g:E the fourth member, the fourth ,, ~;' ....
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rod being substantially perpendicular to the fourth member and substan-tially parallel to the pivotal axis of the fourth member, the fourth rod ;-being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame; and means for pivoting the fourth member between a substantially horizontal position whereby the fourth rod is to one side of the frame and a sub-stantially vertical position whereby the third rod extends substantially above the frame.
By another variant, the first and second rods extend forwardly on the front side of the first and second members respectively and the third and fourth rods extend rearwardly on the rear side of the third and fourth members respectively.
By a further variant, the device includes means attached to the .^", -L~a_ , . , i ~ , .: ~ , . ~
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third member for preventing rotation of a bale received in the third rod with respect to the third rod.
By yet a further variant, the device includes means attached to the fourth member for preventing rotation of a bale received on the fourth rod with respect to the fourth rod.
In the acco~panying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred em~odiment of one aspect of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 1 taken along line 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embo~iment of Figuxe 1 taken aldng line 3-3 of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a partial view taken along line 4-4 of ~igure 3;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of an aspect of the present inven-tion in readiness to load a bale of hay thereon; and Figure 6 is a top plan view of an aspect of the present inven-tion having a full load of bales thereon.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts Lhroughout the several views, Figure 1 shows a bale handling apparatus 10 constructed according to an aspect of the present invention. The bale handling apparatus 10 has a frame 11 ~lth transport wheels 12 attached thereto. The rame 10 has a hitch arrangement 13 at the front thereof for connection to a prime:
mover such as, Eor example, a tractor 15 as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
A plurality of arm members 14 are pivotally attached to the frame 10 by means of a pin structure 16. Each of the arm members 14 has a rod 17 and a shaft 18 rigidly attached thereto. Both the rod 17 and the shaEt 18 are substantially perpendicular to the arm member 14 and are generally parallel to the axis of the pivotal pin 16 and to the direction of forward or rearward eravel of the frame 11 and transporting device 10.
Referring to Figure 3, lt can be seen that each arm member 14 has an angled pro~ection 19 on one end thereof and that a hydraulic ~ S --' ~
cylinder 21 is pivotally attached by a pin 22 to one end of this angled pro~ection 19. The other'end of the hydraulic cylinder 21 is pivotally ' connected to the frame 11 by means of a pair of transverse cross-b~aces 23 and a brace 24 connected to the transverse braces 23. A pin 26 then serves pivotally to connect the hydraulic cylinder 21 to the frame member 24 of the main frame 11.
The hydraulic cylinder 21 is of a double acting type and has a hose (not shown) connecting each end thereof wi~h the hydraulic syst~m of the tractor 15. Accordingly, hydraulic controls tnot shown) on the ~-tractor can be activated either'to lengthen or shorten the effective length of the hydraulic cylinder 21 as is well known in this art. Each of the five arms 14, as shown in Figure 1 for example,'and the structure '' immediately connected thereto, including the hydraulic cylinders 21, constitutes a separate bale loading and unloading assembly structure.
Each of the five bale loading and unloading assemblies shown are essen-tially identical except that the two'at the rear of the device have the .-- . .
rods 17 and the shafts 18 extending rearwardly instead o~ forwardly for reasons which wLll be dLscussed below. It is to be understood that more or less than five of these assemblies can be mounted on a single frame and still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For example,'it is considered that it would be practical to use as few as one of the bale loading and unloading assemblies on a erame and as many as a dozen on a single frame 11.
In operation, when it is desired to load a bale, the device 10 is merely placed in position for example, as is shown in Figure 5 in readiness to engage a bale. Initially, the cylinders would be shortened in length as shown in solid lines in Figure 3 so that the arm members 14 assume an essentially horizontal position. The frame 11 is then moved along the ground by use of the wheels 12 and the prime mover 15 to drive the rod 17 and shaft 18 into a bale 27. Once the bale 27 has been engaged, then the hydraulic cylinder 21 of that respective arm member 14 is actuated to lengthen the effective length thereof so as to move the bale ,.
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up~ardly above the frame and off the ground as is shown in Figure 3 in dashed lines. Each of the ~ive loading and unloading assemblies including each respective arm 14 would be loaded in essentially the same way except that, of course, the three forward loading and unloading assemblies would require that the device be driven forwardly into the bale in order to engage each bale whereas the two rear loading and unloading assemblies would need'to be backed into the'bale in order to engage the bales.- It is also-noted that in the arrangement whereby two of the arms 14 are directly across from each other such as is shown by the rearmost two arms 14 in ~he preferred'embodiment, tha~ when the bales 27 are loaded'thereon, they will contact each other near the center of the device 10 so as to tend to prevent the bales from falling oEf of the rod 17 and 'shafts 18. This is true because of the forces exerted by the hydraulic cylinders 21 tending to move the arms 14 to a somewhat vertical position. These opposing forces of the two arms 14 will tend further to clamp the hay between them together and therefore tend securely to hold the bales for transporting purposes.
Once the bales are transported to the point of destination by use of a towing vehicle, then they can be unloaded by causing the effec-tive length of the hydraulic cylinders 21 again to be shortened 80 as tomove the bales from an upper position as shown by the arms 14 in the dashed lines in Figure 3 to a lower position as shown by the arms 14 ln solid lines in Figure 3. It is important to note that the bale 27 is moved back onto the ground in the exact positlon Erom which it leEt the ground originally when it was loaded. ~his is important because it minimizes any damage from the bale which might occur if the bale were rotated or rolled along a chain conveyor or the like. It is believed to be clear without an extensive explanation that the rear bales could be unloaded either one at a time or both at the same time by keeping the .
three front bales in their loaded position, or unloading the front bales ~irst, then by moving either one or two of the rear bales to the ground by use of the hydraulic cylinders, and then finall~ driving the device.
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forward by use of the prime mover 15 thereby to pull the rod and shaft out of each bale. Once the rod 17 and shaft 18 are re~oved from the bale, it is most convenient to move the arms 14 to their vertical posi-tion before unloading the next bale. With respect to the unloading of the three forward bales, it is probably most convenient to unload them one at a time by first using the respective hydraulic cylinder 21 thereby to move each respective bale ann to a horizontal position and thereby move the respective bale to a position on the ground and them to back up the bale handling device 10 by use of the tractor 15 so as to release that respective bale from the bale holding rod and shaft 17 and 18. Once each bale is unloaded, the respective arm member 14 is moved to its vertical position by actuating the respective hydraulic cylinder 21. Other sequences of loading and unloading are, of course, well within the skill of those in this art and within the skill of a person who would be utilizing such equipment.
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With the advent of balers which produce large bales of hay weighing in excess of half of a ton, there has become a genuine need for hay handling equipment which was not needed during an earlier era when only smaller manually manoeuverable bales were the only type being produced. It is especially a problem to load and unload such large bales for transportation over long distances. It is, for example, too time-consuming to transport one bale at a time, espeically by the use of a slow-moving agricultural tractor. Normally, however, only a large agricultural is satisfactory~ for lifting, loading and ~mloading bales because of the large size and weight of the bales themselves. Conse-quently, there has been a need to have specially designed trailers which are normally long and narrow for hauling such bales. There has also needed to be some other equipment available to load such trailers at the point of departure and unload the bales at the point of destination.
Usually suc~ loading and unloading is accomplished by a large tractor with a fork-lift structure attached to its three-point hitch and it is therefore necessary to have such unloading equipment at the point of departure and at the point of destination~
There is consequently a need for a trailer having a self-contained mechanism for loading and unloading a plurality of large bales of hay thereon and therefrom respectively. Some such trailers have been devised, but the only ones which have generated the interest of potential buyers have the disadvantage of belng too expensive because oE the com-plexity thereof. Such trailers also have the disadvantage that they are also expensive to maintain; and, because of the many moving parts thereon, there is an increased danger of breakdowns and a corresponding doubt about their dependability. At least one design of such trailers uses a chain conveyor structure to move each bale to its proper place on the trailer. It has been found, however, that such chain conveyor devices tend to tear up the bales somewhat. This is especially true with respect to large round bales having twine thereon which has rotted through due to .
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long periods of storage. ~len such an exteriorly deteriorated bale is transported by a chain conveyor type of loading device, the outer weathered layer tends to be torn off and is lost. If the bale is then stored outside where it is s~tbject to rain and snow, as is usually the case, then even more of the outer layer of the bale will become weathered and therefore be of less food value to livestock than if the original outermost layer had veen retained.
An ob~ect of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a device for transporting large bales of hay from place to place.
An object of another aspect of the invention is to provide a device for connection to a bale hauling trailer for loading and unload-ing the bales.
An ob~ect of a further aspect of the invention is to provide a bale loading and unloading device which handles bales gently so as to prevent damage to the bales.
An object of still another aspect of the inven~Lon is to pro-vide a bale loading and unloading apparatus which unloads bales to the same relative posltion wlth respect to the plane of the ground as it was before being initially picked up.
An object of a still further aspect of the invention is to provide a device for transporting a plurality of large bales.
An ob~ect of another aspect oE the invention :Ls to provide a bale loading and unl.oa<lLn~ dev:Lce ~or a trailer whi.cll has very few movin~ parts and is cxtremely de~endable.
By a broad aspect o.F the E~rcscn-t :Lnvention, a balc loading and unloading device is provided comprising a frame;
-transpor-t wheels a-ttached to the .Frame for -towing from place to . place; a first member pivotally a-t-tached to the frame a:Long an ~;axis subs-tantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device; a first rod having one end thereof rigidly attached ' ' ' ' ~b .
to one end of the first member, -the first rod being substan~tially perpendicular to the first member and substan-tially parallel to the axis, the first rod being aclap-ted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame; means for pivo-ting -the first member be-tween a substan-tially horizontal pos:i-tion whereby the firs-t rod ex-tends to one side of the frame and a subs-tantially vertical posi-tion whereby the f~irst rod ex-tends substantially above the frame whereby a bale engaged by the first rod is movable to and from a position on the ground and a position above -the frame; a second member pivotally at-tached to the frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direc-tion of travel of the device; a second rod having one end thereof rigidly attached -to one of the second member, the second rod being substantially perpendicular to the second member and subs-tantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the second member, the second rod being adap-ted to be driven into a bale by movement of -the frame; and between a substan-tially horizontal posi-tion whereby the second rod is to the other side of -the frame and a subs-tantially vertical position whereby the second rod extends substan-tially above the frame; wherein the first and second members are adjacent to one another, whereby when the first and second members are in their respective substantially vertical positions, bales engaged by the Pirst and second rods are in abutment, thereby -to tend -to prevent the bales :Prom sliding oPP the Pirs-t and second rods due to clamping action on the bale~ by -the first and second members.
By one variant thereof, the device includes means attached to one oP the first member and -the firs-t rod for preventlng rotation of -the bale wi-th respect to the first rod.
30By a variation thereof, the rotation preventing means comprises a first shaft rigidly attached to the first _3_ .. ,: " .. ~. ~,, . ... " : .
~
nember, the first shaF-t being sui)s-tantially parallel to -the first rod and being located on the same side of the flrs-t member as the first rod, whereby the first shaft is adapted to engage the bale ~7hen -the bale is engaged by the firs-t rod. r By yet ano-ther varian-t, the means for pivoting the first member comprises a double-acting hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected -to the first member a-t one end thereof and pivotally connected to the frame at the o~her end -thereof.
By a modification -thereof, the device includes ~10 means attached to one of the second member and the second rod for preventing rotation of a bale wi-th respect -to -the second rod.
By yet another modification, the device includes a third member P
pivotally attached to the frame along an axis substantially parallel to th~ general direction of travel of the device; a third rod having one èlld thereof rigidly attached to one end of the third member, the third rod being substantially perpendicular to the thlrd member and substan-tially parallel to the pivotal axis of the third member, the third rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the Erame; and means for pivoting the third member between a substantially hori~ontal position whereby the third rod is to one side of the rame and a sub~
stantially vertical position whereby the third rod extends substantially above the frame.
. By yet another variant? the device includes a .Eourtll member pivotally attached to the frame along an ax:ls substant:Lally parallel to the gcneral d:lrection o:l travel oE the clevice; a Eourth rod having one end thereo rigidly attached to one end g:E the fourth member, the fourth ,, ~;' ....
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rod being substantially perpendicular to the fourth member and substan-tially parallel to the pivotal axis of the fourth member, the fourth rod ;-being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame; and means for pivoting the fourth member between a substantially horizontal position whereby the fourth rod is to one side of the frame and a sub-stantially vertical position whereby the third rod extends substantially above the frame.
By another variant, the first and second rods extend forwardly on the front side of the first and second members respectively and the third and fourth rods extend rearwardly on the rear side of the third and fourth members respectively.
By a further variant, the device includes means attached to the .^", -L~a_ , . , i ~ , .: ~ , . ~
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third member for preventing rotation of a bale received in the third rod with respect to the third rod.
By yet a further variant, the device includes means attached to the fourth member for preventing rotation of a bale received on the fourth rod with respect to the fourth rod.
In the acco~panying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred em~odiment of one aspect of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 1 taken along line 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embo~iment of Figuxe 1 taken aldng line 3-3 of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a partial view taken along line 4-4 of ~igure 3;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of an aspect of the present inven-tion in readiness to load a bale of hay thereon; and Figure 6 is a top plan view of an aspect of the present inven-tion having a full load of bales thereon.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts Lhroughout the several views, Figure 1 shows a bale handling apparatus 10 constructed according to an aspect of the present invention. The bale handling apparatus 10 has a frame 11 ~lth transport wheels 12 attached thereto. The rame 10 has a hitch arrangement 13 at the front thereof for connection to a prime:
mover such as, Eor example, a tractor 15 as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
A plurality of arm members 14 are pivotally attached to the frame 10 by means of a pin structure 16. Each of the arm members 14 has a rod 17 and a shaft 18 rigidly attached thereto. Both the rod 17 and the shaEt 18 are substantially perpendicular to the arm member 14 and are generally parallel to the axis of the pivotal pin 16 and to the direction of forward or rearward eravel of the frame 11 and transporting device 10.
Referring to Figure 3, lt can be seen that each arm member 14 has an angled pro~ection 19 on one end thereof and that a hydraulic ~ S --' ~
cylinder 21 is pivotally attached by a pin 22 to one end of this angled pro~ection 19. The other'end of the hydraulic cylinder 21 is pivotally ' connected to the frame 11 by means of a pair of transverse cross-b~aces 23 and a brace 24 connected to the transverse braces 23. A pin 26 then serves pivotally to connect the hydraulic cylinder 21 to the frame member 24 of the main frame 11.
The hydraulic cylinder 21 is of a double acting type and has a hose (not shown) connecting each end thereof wi~h the hydraulic syst~m of the tractor 15. Accordingly, hydraulic controls tnot shown) on the ~-tractor can be activated either'to lengthen or shorten the effective length of the hydraulic cylinder 21 as is well known in this art. Each of the five arms 14, as shown in Figure 1 for example,'and the structure '' immediately connected thereto, including the hydraulic cylinders 21, constitutes a separate bale loading and unloading assembly structure.
Each of the five bale loading and unloading assemblies shown are essen-tially identical except that the two'at the rear of the device have the .-- . .
rods 17 and the shafts 18 extending rearwardly instead o~ forwardly for reasons which wLll be dLscussed below. It is to be understood that more or less than five of these assemblies can be mounted on a single frame and still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For example,'it is considered that it would be practical to use as few as one of the bale loading and unloading assemblies on a erame and as many as a dozen on a single frame 11.
In operation, when it is desired to load a bale, the device 10 is merely placed in position for example, as is shown in Figure 5 in readiness to engage a bale. Initially, the cylinders would be shortened in length as shown in solid lines in Figure 3 so that the arm members 14 assume an essentially horizontal position. The frame 11 is then moved along the ground by use of the wheels 12 and the prime mover 15 to drive the rod 17 and shaft 18 into a bale 27. Once the bale 27 has been engaged, then the hydraulic cylinder 21 of that respective arm member 14 is actuated to lengthen the effective length thereof so as to move the bale ,.
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up~ardly above the frame and off the ground as is shown in Figure 3 in dashed lines. Each of the ~ive loading and unloading assemblies including each respective arm 14 would be loaded in essentially the same way except that, of course, the three forward loading and unloading assemblies would require that the device be driven forwardly into the bale in order to engage each bale whereas the two rear loading and unloading assemblies would need'to be backed into the'bale in order to engage the bales.- It is also-noted that in the arrangement whereby two of the arms 14 are directly across from each other such as is shown by the rearmost two arms 14 in ~he preferred'embodiment, tha~ when the bales 27 are loaded'thereon, they will contact each other near the center of the device 10 so as to tend to prevent the bales from falling oEf of the rod 17 and 'shafts 18. This is true because of the forces exerted by the hydraulic cylinders 21 tending to move the arms 14 to a somewhat vertical position. These opposing forces of the two arms 14 will tend further to clamp the hay between them together and therefore tend securely to hold the bales for transporting purposes.
Once the bales are transported to the point of destination by use of a towing vehicle, then they can be unloaded by causing the effec-tive length of the hydraulic cylinders 21 again to be shortened 80 as tomove the bales from an upper position as shown by the arms 14 in the dashed lines in Figure 3 to a lower position as shown by the arms 14 ln solid lines in Figure 3. It is important to note that the bale 27 is moved back onto the ground in the exact positlon Erom which it leEt the ground originally when it was loaded. ~his is important because it minimizes any damage from the bale which might occur if the bale were rotated or rolled along a chain conveyor or the like. It is believed to be clear without an extensive explanation that the rear bales could be unloaded either one at a time or both at the same time by keeping the .
three front bales in their loaded position, or unloading the front bales ~irst, then by moving either one or two of the rear bales to the ground by use of the hydraulic cylinders, and then finall~ driving the device.
' ' ' : : ,., . ~ ,. :.
~ ~?~
forward by use of the prime mover 15 thereby to pull the rod and shaft out of each bale. Once the rod 17 and shaft 18 are re~oved from the bale, it is most convenient to move the arms 14 to their vertical posi-tion before unloading the next bale. With respect to the unloading of the three forward bales, it is probably most convenient to unload them one at a time by first using the respective hydraulic cylinder 21 thereby to move each respective bale ann to a horizontal position and thereby move the respective bale to a position on the ground and them to back up the bale handling device 10 by use of the tractor 15 so as to release that respective bale from the bale holding rod and shaft 17 and 18. Once each bale is unloaded, the respective arm member 14 is moved to its vertical position by actuating the respective hydraulic cylinder 21. Other sequences of loading and unloading are, of course, well within the skill of those in this art and within the skill of a person who would be utilizing such equipment.
;~
- . '. .:: ~ ' : .. '
Claims (10)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A bale loading and unloading device comprising:
a frame;
transport wheels attached to said frame for towing from place to place;
a first member pivotally attached to said frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device;
a first rod having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of said first member, said first rod being substantially perpendicular to said first member and substantially parallel to said axis, said first rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame;
means for pivoting said first member between a substantially horizontal position whereby said first rod extends to one side of said frame and a substantially vertical position whereby said first rod extends substantially above said frame whereby a bale engaged by said first rod is movable to and from a position on the ground and a position above said frame;
a second member pivotally attached to said frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device;
a second rod having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of said second member, said second rod being substantially perpendicular to said second member and substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the second member, said second rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame; and means for pivoting said second member between a substantially horizontal position whereby said second rod is to the other side of the frame and a substantially vertical position whereby said second rod extends substantially above said frame; wherein said first and second members are adjacent to one another, whereby when said first and second members are in their respective substantially vertical positions, bales engaged by said first and second rods, are in abutment, thereby to tend to prevent the bales from sliding off said first and second rods, due to clamping action on the bales by said first and second members.
a frame;
transport wheels attached to said frame for towing from place to place;
a first member pivotally attached to said frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device;
a first rod having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of said first member, said first rod being substantially perpendicular to said first member and substantially parallel to said axis, said first rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame;
means for pivoting said first member between a substantially horizontal position whereby said first rod extends to one side of said frame and a substantially vertical position whereby said first rod extends substantially above said frame whereby a bale engaged by said first rod is movable to and from a position on the ground and a position above said frame;
a second member pivotally attached to said frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device;
a second rod having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of said second member, said second rod being substantially perpendicular to said second member and substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the second member, said second rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame; and means for pivoting said second member between a substantially horizontal position whereby said second rod is to the other side of the frame and a substantially vertical position whereby said second rod extends substantially above said frame; wherein said first and second members are adjacent to one another, whereby when said first and second members are in their respective substantially vertical positions, bales engaged by said first and second rods, are in abutment, thereby to tend to prevent the bales from sliding off said first and second rods, due to clamping action on the bales by said first and second members.
2. The bale loading and unloading device of claim 1 including means attached to one of said first member and to said first rod for preventing rotation of said bale with respect to said first rod.
3. The bale loading and unloading device of claim 2 wherein said rotation preventing means comprises a first shaft rigidly attached to said first member, said first shaft being substantially parallel to said first rod and being located on the same side of said first member as said first rod, whereby said first shaft is adapted to engage said bale when the bale is engaged by the first rod.
4. The bale loading and unloading device of claim 1 wherein said means for pivoting said first member comprises a double acting hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected to said first member at one end thereof and pivotally connected to said frame at the other end thereof.
5. The bale loading and unloading device of claim 1 including means attached to one end of said second member and to said second rod for preventing rotation of a bale with respect to said second rod.
6. The bale loading and unloading device of claim 1 including:
a third member pivotally attached to said frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device;
a third rod having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of said third member, said third rod being substantially perpendicular to said third member and substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the third member, said third rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame; and means for pivoting said third member between a substantially horizontal position whereby said third rod is to one side of the frame and a substantially vertical position whereby said third rod extends substantially above said frame.
a third member pivotally attached to said frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device;
a third rod having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of said third member, said third rod being substantially perpendicular to said third member and substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the third member, said third rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame; and means for pivoting said third member between a substantially horizontal position whereby said third rod is to one side of the frame and a substantially vertical position whereby said third rod extends substantially above said frame.
7. The bale loading and unloading device of claim 6 including;
a fourth member pivotally attached to said frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device;
a fourth rod having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of said fourth member, said fourth rod being substantially perpendicular to said fourth member and substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the fourth member, said fourth rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame; and means for pivoting said fourth member between a substantially horizontal position whereby said fourth rod is to one side of the frame and a substantially vertical position whereby said third rod extends substantially above said frame.
a fourth member pivotally attached to said frame along an axis substantially parallel to the general direction of travel of the device;
a fourth rod having one end thereof rigidly attached to one end of said fourth member, said fourth rod being substantially perpendicular to said fourth member and substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the fourth member, said fourth rod being adapted to be driven into a bale by movement of the frame; and means for pivoting said fourth member between a substantially horizontal position whereby said fourth rod is to one side of the frame and a substantially vertical position whereby said third rod extends substantially above said frame.
8. The bale loading and unloading device of claim 7 wherein said first and second rods extend forwardly on the front side of said first and second members respectively and said third and fourth rods extend rearwardly on the rear side of said third and fourth members respectively.
9. The bale loading and unloading device of claim 8 including means attached to said third member for preventing rotation of a bale received on said third rod with respect to said third rod.
10. The bale loading and unloading device of claim 9 including means attached to said fourth member for preventing rotation of a bale received on said fourth rod with respect to said fourth rod.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA261,881A CA1065808A (en) | 1976-09-23 | 1976-09-23 | Bale transporting apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA261,881A CA1065808A (en) | 1976-09-23 | 1976-09-23 | Bale transporting apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1065808A true CA1065808A (en) | 1979-11-06 |
Family
ID=4106918
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA261,881A Expired CA1065808A (en) | 1976-09-23 | 1976-09-23 | Bale transporting apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1065808A (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4360167A (en) * | 1979-11-13 | 1982-11-23 | Ferruccio Beccalori | Apparatus for the reduction of big cylindrical bales of hay, straw and the like and for the distribution thereof |
| US4411571A (en) * | 1981-04-13 | 1983-10-25 | Troy Gildon | Hay bale retrieving and transporting trailer |
| US4500242A (en) * | 1983-03-09 | 1985-02-19 | Beikman Douglas L | Apparatus and method of handling bales |
| US4621776A (en) * | 1983-04-25 | 1986-11-11 | Deweze Manufacturing, Inc. | Round bale handler |
| US5026238A (en) * | 1989-12-19 | 1991-06-25 | Walt William G | Bale handler |
-
1976
- 1976-09-23 CA CA261,881A patent/CA1065808A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4360167A (en) * | 1979-11-13 | 1982-11-23 | Ferruccio Beccalori | Apparatus for the reduction of big cylindrical bales of hay, straw and the like and for the distribution thereof |
| US4411571A (en) * | 1981-04-13 | 1983-10-25 | Troy Gildon | Hay bale retrieving and transporting trailer |
| US4500242A (en) * | 1983-03-09 | 1985-02-19 | Beikman Douglas L | Apparatus and method of handling bales |
| US4621776A (en) * | 1983-04-25 | 1986-11-11 | Deweze Manufacturing, Inc. | Round bale handler |
| US5026238A (en) * | 1989-12-19 | 1991-06-25 | Walt William G | Bale handler |
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