GB1569416A

GB1569416A - Bale transportation implement

Info

Publication number: GB1569416A
Application number: GB987876A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Massey Ferguson SA
Current assignee: AGCO SA
Priority date: 1977-03-07
Filing date: 1977-03-07
Publication date: 1980-06-18

Description

(54) BALE TRANSPORTATION IMPLEMENT (71) We, MASSEY-FERGUSON S.A., a French Company, of 22 Avenue Galilee, 92 Le Plessis Robinson, (Hauts-de-Seine), France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment:- This invention relates to bale transportation implements.

In the past, bales of hay or straw have usually been transported in trailers in which they have been deposited either manually or by means of a bale thrower mounted on a baler or with the assistance of an elevator or some other independent mechanical aid.

More recently proposals have been made for mechanical devices which group together a number of standard size rectangular bales so that they can be handled jointly for transportation. When so grouped, the bales are usually intended to be picked-up and trasported by a front end loading device mounted on a tractor.

Proposals have also been made for implements which will receive and store standard size rectangular bales one by one.

Such implements are usually mechanically complex and consequently expensive.

There is a requirement therefore for an implement offering a more efficient method of transporting baled material and in particular of transporting the large so-called "round" bales, which are actually approximately cylindrical in shape. At present, round bales are usually carried, one at a time, by a front or rear end loading device mounted on a tractor. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a bale transportation implement which wholly or at least partially meets this requirement.

According to the invention there is provided a bale transportation implement comprising: a bale storage zone; a bale pick-up arm; the bale pick-up arm being mounted for rotational movement in one sense through a bale receiving position in which it projects from the implement and a successive bale stored position in which it is positioned in or adjacent the bale storage zone; and a drive to effect said rotational movement of the bale pick-up arm through its bale receiving and bale stored positions.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 shows a bale transportation implement in side elevation; Figure 2 shows the implement of Figure 1 as viewed in the direction of arrow II therein i.e. in plan view; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a model illustrating the construction of a portion of the implement of Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 4 to 7 are diagrams illustrating (by means of rear views as indicated by arrow IV in Figure 1) stages in the loading and unloading of the implement of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 8 shows a longitudinal section taken on the line VIII-VIII in Figure 4 showing the structure of part of a drive to effect rotational movement of a bale pickup arm of the implement; and Figure 9 shows a section on the line IX-IX in Figure 8 illustrating the structure of a cam.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a bale transportation implement 10 comprises a frame 12 mounted on rear wheels 14, 16 and forward steerable wheels 18, 20.

Frame 12 comprises three longitudinal parallel beams 22, 24, 26 linked by five transverse tie beams 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, longitudinal beams 22, 24, 26 are spaced both vertically and laterally, beam 22 (at the right hand side of the implement) being the lowest and beams 24 and 26 being progressively higher and spaced therefrom towards the left hand side of the implement. The spacing of beams 22, 24, 26 is such that a series of arcuate transverse cradle members (not seen in Figures 1 and 2) are conveniently supported thereon, for a purpose to be described.

Bale transportation implement 10 is adapted to be drawn by a tractor, and for this purpose has a drawbar assembly 40 including a transverse bar 42 adapted to be attached in the well-known manner to the draft links of a tractor. The drawbar assembly includes a pivot 44 permitting lateral articulation of the tractor relative to the implement.

A steering linkage 46 interconnects transverse bar 42 and the steerable front wheels 18, 20 of the implement. Linkage 46 includes the following pivotally interconnected components : -a first link 48, a bell crank 50, a second link 52, a first steering arm 54, a third link 56, and a second steering arm 58.

Bale transportation implement 10 further comprises four pairs of bale pick-up arms 60, 62, 64, 66, four respective bale storage zones 68, 70, 72, 74 and a drive 76 to effect rotational movement of the bale pick-up arms successively through their bale receiving and bale stored positions (as will be explained).

The pairs of bale pick-up arms 60 62, 64 and 66 are identical to each other in structure. Each pair comprises a first bale pick-up arm 78 (seen as the lower portion of each pair of arms in Figure 1) and a second bale pick-up arm 80 (seen in Figure 2 and in the upper portion of each pair of arms in Figure 1).

The first bale pick-up arm 78 of each pair of bale pick up arms is substantially identical in structure to the second bale pick-up arm 80 thereof. Each of said arms comprises three spaced arcuate cradle members 82 (for arms 78) and 84 (for arms 80) interconnected by pairs of axially aligned freely rotatable rollers 86.

The pairs of bale pick up arms are each pivotally mounted on a common longitudinally-extending horizonal shaft 88 forming part of drive 76. The shaft is itself freely journalled for rotation in bearings 90 carried by frame 12.

Bale storage zones 68, 70, 72 and 74 are each defined, at least partially, by the bale pick up arms 78 and 80. This will now be further explained with reference to Figure 3 which illustrates the structure in perspective and therefore enables the relationships of its components to be appreciated more readily.

It is to be understood that the structure shown in Figure 3 is that of a model made to illustrate, in a simple manner, the principle of the invention. Accordingly the structure shown in Figure 3 does not correspond in all its details with that of the bale transportation shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In Figure 3, the main structural components are:-- a pair of beams 92, 94 corresponding to beams 24, 26 respectively in Figures 1 and 2; a pair of end support brackets 96, 98 for beams 92, 94, these brackets corresponding to components of frame 12 in Figures 1 and 2; a shaft 100 corresponding to shaft 88 in Figures 1 and 2, journalled in bearings carried by supports 102, 104 fixed to beams 92, 94, for rotation about an axis 106; a pair of bale pick-up arms comprising a first bale pick-up arm 108 and a second bale pick-up arm 110, these arms being rigidly connected to each other and freely journalled on shaft 100 for rotation about axis 106; and four arcuate cradle members 112 fixed to beams 92 and 94.

First bale pick-up arm 108 is in the form of a cradde and comprises three arcuate cradle members 114, 116, 118.

Arcuate cradle member 114 carries a chordal stop member 120 for a purpose to be described. The second bale pick-up arm 110 is of substantially identical structure to the first bale pick-up arm 108 but is circumferentially displaced with respect thereto, about axis 106, and comprises three arcuate cradle members 122, 124, 126 and a stop member 128.

In the apparatus shown in Figure 3 there is a bale storage zone 130 to accommodate two round bales. The first bale is accommodated between the first bale pick-up arm 108 and arcuate cradle members 112, and therefore half of zone 130 is defined thereby.

The second bale is supported by the second bale pick-up arm 110 therefore the remainder of zone 130 is defined thereby.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 fixed arcuate cradle members corresponding to cradle members 112 are provided but cannot be seen in Figures 1 and 2 because they are hidden by the bale pick-up arms. Also not seen in Figure 2, each pair 60, 62, 64, 66 of bale pick up arms in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 has its own pivotally mounted ramp supported by the fixed arcuate cradle members. Figure 6 shows such a ramp 132 which is pivotally mounted on cradle members (not shown) similar to cradle members 112. The ramp is movable between a working position (shown) in which it can assist and guide inward movement of bales from the ground and a raised transport position (not shown).

In Figures 1 and 2 stop members corresponding to members 120 and 128 in Figure 3) for the first and second bale pick-up arms 78 and 80 are identified by reference numerals 136 and 138 respectively.

Drive 76 for the bale pick-up arms comprises a conventional reduction gearbox (not shown) mounted on drawbar 40 and adapted to be coupled by a shaft in the conventional manner to the p.t.o. drive output shaft of a tractor. The gearbox is coupled by a conventional drive of a type suitable for transmission of quite high torque (e.g. a shaft drive or a chain drive) to shaft 88 which carries the bale pick-up arms 78 and 80. The ratio of the drive betwen the tractor's p.t.o. shaft and shaft 88 is such that shaft 88 is turned at 2 revolutions per minute when the p.t.o. shaft is rotated at its normal rate (of e.g. 540 revolutions per minute).

Shaft 88 has mounted thereon four dog clutches 140, 142, 144, 146, one for each of the pairs of bale pick-up arms 60, 62, 64, 66 respectively to control the transmission of torque to the bale pick-up arms.

The structure of shaft 88 comprises, as shown in Figure 8, a central core shaft 147 on which are journalled four sleeves 148 (only one being seen in Figure 8), one for each pair of bale pick-up arms 78, 80. The bale pick-up arms are carried by these sleeves. The sleeves are movable both axially and circumferentially with respect to the core shaft.

Each of the dog clutches 140, 142, 144, 146 comprises a first clutch member 150 carried by its respective sleeve 148 (and which is therefore axially movable) and a second clutch member 152 carried on a sleeve 154 splined to the central core shaft (and which is therefore also axially movable), and a clutch disengagement spring 153. Axial movement of the first and second clutch members 150, 152 towards each other establishes a drive therebetween.

Cam means in the form of a cam plate 156 is mounted on each sleeve 148 and rotates therewith and co-operates with roller means 158 mounted at a fixed position on frame 12. As shown in Figure 9, cam plate 156 has four raised lands 160 and four recesses 162 therebetween.

Remotely operable clutch control means comprising a roller assembly 159 movable between a position (as shown) in which it engages a cam 160 on second clutch member 152 and a position in which it is clear of the cam, is provided for each of the clutches 140 to 146 to effect engagement and disengagement thereof.

Use of the bale transportation implement will now be described by reference to Figures 1 to 3 together with Figures 4 to 7.

The implement is transported empty or fully laden with all the bale pick-up arms 78, 80 in the position shown in Figure 4.

Stops (not shown) are provided to hold the arms in this position. When it is desired to commence bale pick-up operation first the tractor p.t.o. drive is engaged, whereupon the central core shaft 147 of shaft 88 is rotated at 2 r.p.m. This central core shaft is rotated continuously throughout pick-up operations.

Secondly, the manual clutch control 158 for clutch 140 is operated to engage the clutch briefly. Initial engagement of the clutch commences clockwise rotation (arrow R) of the two bale pick-up arms as seen in Figures 4 to 7. After initial engagement of clutch 140, its associated cam means 156, 158 maintains clutch engagement by moving its sleeve 148 (and therefore the bale pick-up arms 78, 80 and first clutch member 150 also) axially rearwards (to the left as seen in Figures 1 and 2).

The profile of cam means 156 is such that lands 160 maintain clutch engagement during each of four successive 90 degrees units of angular movement of the bale pickup arms, and between said successive units the strong clutch disengagement springs 153 assisted by the provision of rollers 158 on the fixed cradle members 134 disengages the drive by moving the sleeve 148 forwards.

Thus the pick-up arms 78, 80 can be readily moved between the positions shown in Figures 4 to 7 merely by manually engaging the clutch 140 for a short time whereupon the bale pick-up arms will execute 90 degrees of angular movement and then stop.

A conventional ratchet (not shown) acting between each sleeve 148 and the frame is provided to prevent reverserotation of the bale pick-up arms when unbalanced during loading and unloading.

The position for commencing bale pickup is shown in Figure 6 in which bale pick-up arm 80 is in its bale receiving position in which it projects laterally of the implement. When this position has been reached, the implement is drawn down a field and (with the tractor in low gear) bale pick-up arm 80 is aligned with a round bale lying on the ground. Bale pick-up arm 80 passes over the bale and the bale engages stop member 138 and pushes sleeve 148 and clutch member 150 rearwards, thereby engaging the clutch 140 and causing a further 90 degrees unit of angular movement of the bale pick-up arms to the position shown in Figure 7, during which the bale slides or rolls up ramp 132. It will be appreciated that stop member 138 constitutes an actuating arm for the clutch. Stop member 136 does so also.

Bale pick-up arm 80 is now in its bale stored positions, the first bale is in the storage zone 68 and bale pick-up arm 78 is positioned to pick up the next bale (i.e.

is in its bale receiving position), as shown in Figure 7. When the next bale is encountered and engages stop member 136, clutch 140 is again engaged and causes drive 76 to effect a further 90 degree unit of angular movement of the bale pick-up arms, thereby returning them to the position shown in Figure 4. During such movement the second bale slides or rolls up ramp 132 into the bale storage zone 68, and bale pick-up arm 78 moves to its bale stored position.

Two bales are now stored in bale storage zone 68, and the above sequence of operations is repeated in respect of the pairs 62, 64, 66 of bale pick-up arms until eight bales are in the bale storage zones.

To unload bales from the implement all that is necessary is to engage drive 76 and cause the bale pick-up arms to turn in direction R (Figures 4 to 7) through successive 90 degree units of angular movement. From the fully loaded position in Figure 4, the bales are discharged onto tbe ground in the Figure 5 and Figure 6 positions. This operation is performed with one pair of bale pick-up arms at a time because round bales are extremely heavy and in the interest of lateral stability of the implement it is undesirable to have several bales simultaneously exerting a turning moment on the implement's frame.

The advantages of the embodiment of the invention described above include the following: 1. the implement can carry more than one bale at a time; 2. the bales are loaded more or less automatically while the tractor proceeds steadily forwards, no complicated tractor manoeuvring being required; 3. the structure of the implement and its drives are relatively simple and it can therefore be made rugged and reliable without being unduly expensive; 4. the implement provides automatic or at least semi-automatic bale unloading using tractor power.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to use in a trailed implement nor to an implement which picks up bales as it passes alongside the bales. It would be possible for the implement to be self propelled, semi mounted or even (on a small scale) fully mounted on a tractor. Furthermore bales could be picked-up by bale pick-up arms projecting forwards (i.e. in the direction of usual forward motion of the implement) as opposed to projecting laterally. In such a case the forward motion of the implement would somewhat assist the inward movement of the bales towards the bale storage zone.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A bale transportation implement comprising: a bale storage zone; a bale pick-up arm; the bale pick-up arm being mounted for rotational movement in one sense through a bale receiving position in which it projects from the implement and a successive bale stored position in which it is positioned in or adjacent the bale storage zone; and a drive to effect said rotational movement of the bale pick-up arm through its bale receiving and bale stored positions.

2. A bale transportation implement according to claim 1 wherein the bale pickup arm, when in its bale receiving position, projects laterally with respect to the direction of usual forward motion of the implement.

3. A bale transportation implement according to claim 2 wherein the pivot axis of the bale pick-up arm extends horizontally, and said arm, when in its bale receiving position during use, passes over a bale to be transported.

4. A bale transportation implement according to any preceding claim, wherein said drive includes a clutch, and that clutch includes a clutch actuating arm positionable for engagement with a bale lying on the ground to change the clutch to its drive-engaged condition.

5. A bale transportation implement according to claim 4 wherein said clutch actuating arm is constituted by said bale pick-up arm, the bale pick-up arm being mounted for movement axially along its pivot axis.

6. A bale transportation implement according to any preceding claim wherein a second bale pick-up arm is provided and is connected to the other bale pick-up arm for rotational movement in unison therewith about a common axis, the second pick-up arm being circumferentially displaced with respect to the other bale pick-up arm about said axis.

7. A bale transportation implement according to any preceding claim wherein a further bale pick-up arm is mounted for independent rotational movement about an axis parallel to that of the other bale pickup arm at a position axially spaced from said other bale pick-up arm.

8. A bale transportation implement according to claim 7 wherein said further bale pick-up arm and said other bale pickup arm are mounted for rotational movement about a common axis defined by a shaft.

9. A bale transportation implement

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. actuating arm for the clutch. Stop member 136 does so also. Bale pick-up arm 80 is now in its bale stored positions, the first bale is in the storage zone 68 and bale pick-up arm 78 is positioned to pick up the next bale (i.e. is in its bale receiving position), as shown in Figure 7. When the next bale is encountered and engages stop member 136, clutch 140 is again engaged and causes drive 76 to effect a further 90 degree unit of angular movement of the bale pick-up arms, thereby returning them to the position shown in Figure 4. During such movement the second bale slides or rolls up ramp 132 into the bale storage zone 68, and bale pick-up arm 78 moves to its bale stored position. Two bales are now stored in bale storage zone 68, and the above sequence of operations is repeated in respect of the pairs 62, 64, 66 of bale pick-up arms until eight bales are in the bale storage zones. To unload bales from the implement all that is necessary is to engage drive 76 and cause the bale pick-up arms to turn in direction R (Figures 4 to 7) through successive 90 degree units of angular movement. From the fully loaded position in Figure 4, the bales are discharged onto tbe ground in the Figure 5 and Figure 6 positions. This operation is performed with one pair of bale pick-up arms at a time because round bales are extremely heavy and in the interest of lateral stability of the implement it is undesirable to have several bales simultaneously exerting a turning moment on the implement's frame. The advantages of the embodiment of the invention described above include the following: 1. the implement can carry more than one bale at a time; 2. the bales are loaded more or less automatically while the tractor proceeds steadily forwards, no complicated tractor manoeuvring being required; 3. the structure of the implement and its drives are relatively simple and it can therefore be made rugged and reliable without being unduly expensive; 4. the implement provides automatic or at least semi-automatic bale unloading using tractor power. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to use in a trailed implement nor to an implement which picks up bales as it passes alongside the bales. It would be possible for the implement to be self propelled, semi mounted or even (on a small scale) fully mounted on a tractor. Furthermore bales could be picked-up by bale pick-up arms projecting forwards (i.e. in the direction of usual forward motion of the implement) as opposed to projecting laterally. In such a case the forward motion of the implement would somewhat assist the inward movement of the bales towards the bale storage zone. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A bale transportation implement comprising: a bale storage zone; a bale pick-up arm; the bale pick-up arm being mounted for rotational movement in one sense through a bale receiving position in which it projects from the implement and a successive bale stored position in which it is positioned in or adjacent the bale storage zone; and a drive to effect said rotational movement of the bale pick-up arm through its bale receiving and bale stored positions.

9. A bale transportation implement

according to claim 8 wherein said drive to effect pivotal movement of the bale pick-up arm is connected to said shaft to rotate it, and wherein clutches are provided to transmit drive from the shaft to the bale pick-up arms, and wherein cam means actuatable by rotation of said shaft is provided to cause said clutches to transmit drive to effect pivotal movement of the bale pickup arm through a predetermined angle.

10. A bale transportation implement according to any preceding claim wherein said bale pick arm is in the form of a cradle.

11. A bale transportation implement according to claim 10 wherein freely rotatable rollers are mounted on said cradle for engagement with bales during bale pick-up.

12. A bale transportation implement according to any preceding claim wherein a ramp is pivotally mounted adjacent the bale storage zone for movement to a working position in which it can assist inward movement of bales from the ground.

13. A bale transportation implement substantially as described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.