CA1142139A - Back loader for big hay bales - Google Patents

Back loader for big hay bales

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Publication number
CA1142139A
CA1142139A CA000372681A CA372681A CA1142139A CA 1142139 A CA1142139 A CA 1142139A CA 000372681 A CA000372681 A CA 000372681A CA 372681 A CA372681 A CA 372681A CA 1142139 A CA1142139 A CA 1142139A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
tractor
lifting
wing
wing members
lifting bar
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
Application number
CA000372681A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Julius D. Vansickle
Major J. Vansickle
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA000372681A priority Critical patent/CA1142139A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1142139A publication Critical patent/CA1142139A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
  • Agricultural Machines (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Loading apparatus is disclosed for use with a tractor having a three-point hitch including an upper stationary pivot point and a pair of opposed generally parallel lifting arms below the pivot point. A horizontal lifting bar is supported by the outer end of the lifting arms and a pair of wing members have their inner ends pivotally secured to the tractor pivot point and their outer ends configured so that they are generally parallel and spaced apart sufficiently to engage the ends of a cylindrical hay bale. A
hydraulic grasping cylinder and piston assembly between the wing member is controllable so as to move the wing members together to grasp a hay bale, after which the lifting arms may be actuated to lift the lifting bar and thereby the wing members to lift the hay bale for transportation.

Description

~l~Z139 This in~ention relates to Apparatus for use ~ith a tractor for lifting and transporting o~ects such as large c~lindrical hay bales.
rn recent years the use of large hay bales has become more common.
These hay bales are so large and bulky that they must be lifted and trans-ported only by mechanical means, and for this purpose apparatus has been de-Yised to assist the farmer in lifting and transporting large bales of hay.
Reference may be had to United States Patent No. 4,194,863, entitled "BIG
BALE LOADE~," for an example of a type of loading apparatus for liftlng and transporting hay bales. The type of apparatus disclosed in the patent is particularly adapted for mounting on the front of a vehicle, such as a tractor.
The present invention is directed towards a type of loader for big hay bales which is particularly adapted for mounting on the rear of tractors having a three-point hookup. Most small and intermediate size farm tractors in use today have what is termed a three-point hookup. This con-sists of an upper stationary pivot point and a pair of hydraulically controlled lifting arms which are positioned below the pivot point. The lifting arms are pivoted a~out a common axis and are hydraulically controlled so that the arms are raised simultaneously up and down, utili~ing hydraulic energy supplied by a pump driven by the tractor engine. Control mechanisms are mounted on the tractor. This typical type of three-point hydraulically controlled hookup is popular because it allows the tractor operator to attach a great variety of agricultural implements to the tractor and affords means of controlling the implements. It is particularly useful with implements such as plows, mowers, discs, and so fcrth which can be lifted off the ground for transportation to and from work areas.
It is therefore an object of this in~ention to provide an improved loader for large hay bales particularly adaptable for ~he attachment to the i~ i39 rear end of a tractor~
According to the invention there is provided apparatus ~or use with a tractor for l~fting and transporting objects such as large cylindrical hay bales, the tractor having a three-point hitch including a stationary pivot point and a pair of opposed, generally paralled lifting arms below the pivot point, the lifting arms being simultaneously pivotal in parallel vertical planes by hydraulic action, the apparatus compr~sing a horizontal lifting bar;
means of supporting said horizontal lifting bar on the lifting arms of a tractor, the lifting bar being thereby vertically positionable by the tractor arms; a short horizontal member having an inner end pivotally attached to the tractor pivot point; a first wing member having an inner portion and an outer portion; a second wing member having an inner portion and an outer portion, an inner end of each wing member being pivotally attached to said horizontal member whereby the wing members are free to pivot towards and away from each other, the wing members slidably resting on said lifting bar intermediate their ends; a hydraulic grasping cylinder and piston assembly pivotally connected at opposite ends to the wing members whereby the outer ends of the wing members may be spaced apart from each other to receive an object there-between and moved toward each other to grasp the object therebetween and in which condition the tractor lifting arms may be pivoted upwardly to lift said lifting bar and thereby said wing members to lift the grasped object;
and means affixed to each said wing member slidably receiving said lifting bar.
~n embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:
FIG~RE 1 is an elevational side view showing a back loader for big hay bales as attached to a tractor having a three-point hookup, portions 11~2139 of a tractor and a bale of hay~being s~own in dotted outline;
PrGURE 2 is an elevatational s-ide vie~ as shown in ~IGURE 1 and showing the loader operated so as to li~t a large bale of llay eor trans-portation;
FIGURE 3 is a plan view looking down on a back loader for big hay ~ales according to this invention and showing the apparatus as positioned preparatory to engaging a large bale of hay;
FIGURE 4 is a plan view as shown in ~I~URE 3 showing the apparatus actuated to engage a large bale of hay for lifting and transportation of the bale; and FIGURE 5 on the first sheet of drawings, i5 an elevational view as shown in PI~URES 1 and 2l and showing the position of the loader after a bale of hay has been grasped but before it is lifted off the ground.
Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGURES l and 3, an apparatus which embodies the principles of this invention is illustrated. The apparatus is for use with a tractor, the tractor being of the type having a commonly employed three-point hookup. Such three-point hookup includes a stationary pivot point 10 and a pair of hydraulically actuated lifting arms 12 and 14 shown in dotted outline.
The lifting arms 12 and 14 are generally parallel to each other and are actuated about a common axis at their inner ends (not shown) so that the lifting arms move up and down in unison by mechanisms controllable from the tractor ~not shown). The use of a three-point hookup is well known, as most agricultural tractors, particularly those of small and medium sizes at this time are typically supplied with a three-point hookup, including hydraulic controls for elevationally positioning the lifting arms 12 and 14.
The first element of the loader for big hay bales is a horizontal 13'3 l~fting bar 16. The bar is shown to be cyl~ndri~cal although it, of course, may be of any cross sectional con~iguration. A~ixed to the lifting bar 16 is a pair of parallel support members 18 and 20. The upper end of the support member 18 ~s connected to lifting bar 16, such as by being welded to it, and the lower end is pivotally connectcd about pin 22 to the outer end of lifting arm 12. ln like manner, the upper end o~ support member 20 is connected to the liftin~ bar 16 and the lower end pivoted to the outer end of tractor lifting arm 14.
A first wlng member is generally indicated by the numeral 24 and a second wing member is generally indicated by the numeral 26. These wing members are utilized for grasping a bale of hay 28. Wlng member 24 in-cludes an inner portion 24A and an outer portion 24B and in like manner, the second wing member 26 includes inner portion 26A and outer portion 26B. The inner and outer portions of each of the wing members are joined at an obtuse angle. The inner end of inner portion 24A and the inner end of inner portion 26A are each pivotally connected to tractor pivot point 26. In the illustrated manner of achieving this pivotal connection, an upper horizontal member 30A
and a lower horizontal member 30B are employed. The members 30A and 30B are parallel to each other, spaced apart a distance so as to receive the inner ends of the wing members 24 and 26~ The wing members are pivotal in a horizontal plane between the upper and lower horizontal members 30A and 30B by means of pivot pins 32A and 32B. The horizontal members 30A and 30B are supported to-gether by a central vertical plate 34. A pair of bracket members 36A and 36B
are attached to either side of plate 34 and extend rearwardly and are pivotally connected to the tractor pivot point 10 by means of a pin 38. The combination of the upper and lower horizontal members 30A and 30B, vertical plate 34, and bracket members 36A and 36B provide a means of pivotally connecting the inner ~Z139 ends of wing member 24, 26 to the tractor pivot po~nt lO in such a way that the wing members are pivotal vertically as well as pivotal towards and away from each other. The wing members nevertholess remain in a common plane at all times as they each rest upon the lifting bar 16.
As previously stated, the wing member inner portions and outer portions are connected together at an obtuse angle and gusset plates 40A and 40B ensure that the wings are sufficiently stiff to resist bending as force is applied for grasping a large hay bale 28.
Positioned between wing members 24 and 26 is a hydraulic grasping cylinder 42 having a piston 44 reciprocally extending therefrom. Cylinder 42 is pivotally connected by pin 46 to a plate 48 welded to wing member inner portion 24A. In like manner, piston rod 44 is pi~otally connected by pin 50 to a plate 52 welded to wing member inner portion 26A. Hydraulic hoses 54A
and 54B extend from cylinder 42 and connect to a source of hydraulic fluid pressure and control (not shown), which is part of the tractor to which the bale loading device is attached.
When the loader is to be used to lift for transporting a large bale of hay 28, cylinder 42 is supplied with hydraulic pressure to extend piston rod 44, sliding the wing membPrs 24A and 24B apart from each other so that the outer ends 24B and 26B extend substantially parallel to each other as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The outer ends of the wings are thereby spaced apart a distance greater than the length of hay bale 28 and the tractor may be backed into position so that the wing member outer ends 24B and 26B ex-tend to either side of hay bale 28~ The operator then applies hydraulic pressure to cylinder 42 to withdraw piston 44, moving the wing members 24 and 26 towards each other so that the outer ends 24B, 26B engage the bale of hay as shown in FrGURES 4 and-5~ As long as this hydraulic force is applied, ~l~Z139 the bale of hay 28 is securely grasped by the wing members.
Next, the driver may lift the bale o~ hay 28 by actuating controls on the tractor ~not shown) to pivot the lifting arms 12 and 14 upwardly. Thls upward pivotation of the lifting arms elevates lifting bar 16 and thereby wing members 24 and 26, to the position shown in FIGURE 2. In such condition, the bale of hay may be moved about by the tractor. The bale of hay may be lowered to the groundby lowering the lifting arms 12 and 14 and thereafter actuating c~linder 42 to spread the wing members apart.
To retain the wing members 24 and 26 in proper engagement with the lifting bar 16, U-bolts 56A and 56B are employed, each U-bolt encompassing the lifting bar 16 and the ends thereof being welded to the wing members. The in-ternal dimensions of the U-bolts 56A and 56B are such that the wing members are freely slidable on the lifting bar 16. To make certain that the wing mem-bers 24 and 26 remain supported on top of lifting bar 16, the outer travel may be limited by pins 58A and 58B inserted in the outer ends of the lifting bar.
An important advantage of the hay loader of this invention is that it enables the operator to lift a large bale of hay to an elevation of four feet or more on most tractors~ The operator can use the loader to load large hay bales onto hay trailers or trucks, including pickup trucks, for trans-portation of the hay bales. In like manner, the loader may be used to lift large hay bales off trailers or trucks if they are not self-unloading. Thus, thq loader may be used to lift a large hay bale and move it, while lifted, $rom one locati~on to another, or u~e it to load the lifted bale onto another con~eyance for transportation.
When the wing members are spread apart for releasing engagement with a hay bale, the wings are spaced ready to receive the next bale, so wasted motion is eliminated.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Apparatus for use with a tractor for lifting and transporting ob-jects such as large cylindrical hay bales, the tractor having a three-point hitch including a stationary pivot point and a pair of opposed, generally parallel lifting arms below the pivot point, the lifting arms being simultan-eously pivotal in parallel vertical planes by hydraulic action, the apparatus comprising a horizontal lifting bar;
means of supporting said horizontal lifting bar on the lifting arms of a tractor, the lifting bar being thereby vertically positionable by the tractor arms;
a short horizontal member having an inner end pivotally attached to the tractor pivot point;
a first wing member having an inner portion and an outer portion;
a second wing member having an inner portion and an outer portion, an inner end of each wing member being pivotally attached to said horizontal member whereby the wing members are free to pivot towards and away from each other, the wing members slidably resting on said lifting bar intermediate their ends;
a hydraulic grasping cylinder and piston assembly pivotally connected at opposite ends to the wing members whereby the outer ends of the wing members may be spaced apart from each other to receive an object therebetween and moved toward each other to grasp the object therebetween and in which condition the tractor lifting arms may be pivoted upwardly to lift said lifting bar and thereby said wing members to lift the grasped object; and means affixed to each said wing member slidably receiving said lifting bar.
CA000372681A 1981-03-10 1981-03-10 Back loader for big hay bales Expired CA1142139A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000372681A CA1142139A (en) 1981-03-10 1981-03-10 Back loader for big hay bales

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000372681A CA1142139A (en) 1981-03-10 1981-03-10 Back loader for big hay bales

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1142139A true CA1142139A (en) 1983-03-01

Family

ID=4119417

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000372681A Expired CA1142139A (en) 1981-03-10 1981-03-10 Back loader for big hay bales

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1142139A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6394732B1 (en) 2000-07-06 2002-05-28 Darrell Sweezey Bale handling device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6394732B1 (en) 2000-07-06 2002-05-28 Darrell Sweezey Bale handling device

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