CA2043011C

CA2043011C - Round bale windrower

Info

Publication number: CA2043011C
Application number: CA 2043011
Authority: CA
Inventors: Glen Reil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-22
Filing date: 1991-05-22
Publication date: 1994-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-22
Also published as: CA2043011A1

Abstract

In general, round bale carriers are somewhat bulky and expensive devices suitable for use only on larger farms.
A relatively simple carrier for attachment to a baler includes a rectangular, rear wheel carried main frame for articulated connection to a baler using a small auxiliary frame, the main frame sloping rearwardly in use to a pair of pivotable V-shaped arms which normally maintain the bale on the main frame. When the carrier reaches a desired location, e.g. a windrow, the arms are rotated by actuating a hydraulic cylinder to dump the bale.

Description

204~011 This invention relates to a bale carrier, and in particular to a carrier for a so-called round bale.
In general, round bales are bulky and difficult to handle. Since the advent of round bales, a large number of apparatuses have been devised for handling and/or carrying the bales. Examples of such apparatuses are described in Canadian Patents Nos. 1,039,242, issued to B.K. Honomichl, Sr. on September 26, 1978; 1,047,447, issued to J.L. Schurz on January 30, 1979; 1,096,819, issued to J.M.P. Fry on March 3, 1981; 1,114,620, issued to K.G.M. Ward et al on December 22, 1981 and 1,137,930, issued to T.J. Konechne on December 21, 1982.
Most of the patented apparatuses and other devices for handling round bales are somewhat large, expensive and cumbersome. Moreover, most existing apparatuses cannot readily be attached to a baler for carrying a bale of hay to a desired location in the field.
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-identified problem by providing a relatively simple round bale carrier, which can be used to receive a round bale from a baler, and retain the bale for dumping in an windrow.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a round bale carrier comprising elongated frame means; coupler means for pivotally connecting the front end of said frame means to the trailing end of a baler for receiving round bales therefrom, said coupler means permitting limited rotation of A~

~043011 said frame means around the longitudinal axis there; and supporting the front end of said frame means above the rear end thereof, whereby round bales received by said frame means move to the rear thereof; wheel means supporting the rear end of said frame means for movement along the ground; arm means pivotally connected to said rear end of said frame means for supporting a bale in a transport position; and cylinder means for rotating the arm means from the transport to an unloading position in which the bale is permitted to fall from the carrier.
The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a round bale carrier in accordance with the present invention in a bale receiving position;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bale carrier of Fig. 1 in a bale dumping position; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the front end of the bale carrier of Figs. 1 and 2.
Referring to the drawings, a bale carrier in accordance with the present invention includes a main frame generally indicated at 1. The frame 1 is defined by a pair of sides 2 interconnected by a front end 4, a rear end 5, and a crossbar 6. The crossbar 6 extends between the bottoms of the sides 2. The front end 4 of the frame 1 is connected to a - 2~43011 baler (not shown) by a coupling device defined by an auxiliary frame generally indicated at 7. The frame 7 includes a rear end 8 pivotally connected to the front end of the frame 1 by a bolt 10 and a nut 11 for rotation around the longitudinal axis of the frame 1, i.e. the main frame 1 and the auxiliary frame 7 are pivotally interconnected for rotation relative to each other around the longitudinal axes of such frames. A pair of articulated sides 12 extend forwardly from the rear end 8 o the frame 7. The sides 12 include front sections 14 interconnected at their front ends by a crossbar 15.
Connector strips 16 extend rearwardly from the rear ends of the sections 14, straddling rear arm sections 18. Bolts 19 extend through the strips 16 and the front ends of the sections 18 to pivotally interconnect the front end rear sections 14 and 18, respectively. Thus, the front sections 14 of each side 12 can be rotated upwardly or downwardly with respect to the rear section 18. This arrangement permits adjustment of the height of the front end of the carrier with respect to the rear end thereof, so that bales are caused to roll or slide along the frame 1 towards the rear end 5 thereof. The articulated sides 12 also facilitate adapting of the apparatus to a variety of balers.
The rear end 5 of the frame 1 extends outwardly beyond the sides 2. Inverted L-shaped arms 21 are connected to the outer ends 22 of the frame end 5. Wheels 24 and wheel yokes 25 are mounted beneath the outer free ends of the arms 23~011 .
21. The wheels and yokes are freely castering to facilitate turning of the carrier with a towing vehicle.
An arm assembly generally indicated at 26 is pivotally mounted on the rear end 5 of the frame 1 for rotation around the longitudinal axis of such end 5. The arm assembly 26 includes a crossbar 28 which is pivotally connected to the frame end 5, a first pair of arms 29 extending forwardly from the ends of the crossbar 28, and a second pair of arms 30 extending rearwardly from the ends of the crossbar 28. In effect, each pair of arms 29 and 30 at each end of the crossbar 28 defines a generally V-shaped arm extending longitudinally of the frame 1. The arms 29 and 30 are interconnected by an arcuate reinforcing strip 32 proximate the bottom ends of such arms. A hydraulic cylinder 33 is pivotally mounted in a clevis 35 on the rear centre of the crossbar 6. A piston rod 36 extends rearwardly from the cylinder 33 to the front free end of a bar 38 extending forwardly from the center of the crossbar 28. The piston rod 36 is pivotally connected to such bar 38, so that the cylinder 33 can be used to rotate the arm assembly 26 relative to the frame end 5.
With the carrier attached to the rear end of a baler and the piston rod 36 retracted in the cylinder 33, the arms 30 of the arm assembly 26 extend upwardly and rearwardly (Fig.
1). The arms 29 are horizontal, extending forwardly between the frame sides 2 with the front ends resting on the crossbar 2~43011 6. In this position, the top surfaces of the arms 29 are flush with the top surfaces of the sides 2. A bale falling onto the frame 1 is arrested by the arms 30. The carrier can be towed around a field with the bale thereon. The pivotable connection of the main and auxiliary frames 1 and 7, respectively permits the main frame 1 to remain more or less horizontal on uneven ground. When the vehicle reaches the desired location in a field, the cylinder 33 is actuated to extend the piston rod 36 (Fig. 2). Such action causes the arm assembly 26 to rotate so that the arms 30 are inclined downwardly and rearwardly which effects bale unloading.

Claims

1. A round bale carrier comprising elongated frame means;
coupler means for pivotally connecting the front end of said frame means to the trailing end of a baler for receiving round bales thereof, said coupler means permitting limited rotation of said frmae means around the longitudinal axis there; and supporting the front end of said frame means above the rear end thereof, whereby round bales received by said frame means move to the rear thereof;
wheel means supporting the rear end of said frame means for movement along the ground; arm means pivotally connected to said rear end of said frame means for supporting a bale in a transport position; and cylinder means for rotating the arm means from the transport position to an unloading position in which the bale is permitted to fall from the carrier.

2. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein said frame means includes a skeletal elongated rectangular main frame, and said coupler means includes a shorter, rectangular auxiliary frame pivotally connected to the front end of said main frame, the main frame being rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary frame.

3. A carrier according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary frame includes articulated sides, permitting adapting of the apparatus to various baler heights, and maintaining the front end of the main frame above the rear end thereof.

4. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein said arm means includes a plurality of generally V-shaped arms, the vertex of each arm being pivotally connected to the rear end of said frame means in the bale receiving position, the front side of each arm being horizontal and flush with the top of the main frame, and the rear side of each arm being inclined upwardly into the path of travel of a bale; and, in the bale unloading position, the front side of each arm being inclined upwardly and forwardly, and the rear arm being inclined downwardly and rearwardly for discharging a bale.

5. A carrier according to claim 4, wherein said arm means includes a crossbar pivotally connected to the rear end of the main frame, said V-shaped arms being connected to the ends of said crossbar.