GB2048820A - Bale handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A bale handling apparatus for handling generally cylindrical bales 30 of straw, hay or other fibrous material comprises a frame member 10 pivoted at 25 for rotation about a horizontal axis between a vertical position (illustrated) and a horizontal position. The frame 10 carries a pair of opposed arcuate arms 11, 12 which are pivotally movable towards and away from one another for respectively picking up and releasing a bale 30. The frame 10 is mounted on the lifting arms 23 of a tractor 24 and its pivotal movement is controlled by hydraulic rams 27. The opening and closing of the arms 11, 12 is controlled by further hydraulic rams 17. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bale handling apparatus This invention relates to bale handling apparatus and in particular to bale handling apparatus for use in handling round i.e., generally cylindrical, bales of straw or hay or other fibrous materials. The apparatus in use may be attached to a front loader on an agricultural tractor or to the lift links on the rear of the tractor.

According to the present invention there is provided a bale handling apparatus for use with round bales, the apparatus comprising a frame member adapted for pivotal mounting on a mechanical handling device, a pair of opposed arcuate arms extending outwardly from the frame, the arms being mounted on the frame for relative movement towards and away from one another, and means for controlling the relative movement of the arms so as to permit the apparatus to pick up and release a bale when desired.

The pivotal movement of the frame member on the mechanical handling device is preferably controlled by means of a hydraulic actuator.

Further, the movement of the arcuate arms relative to each other and indeed relative to the frame member is preferably controlled by means of double acting hydraulic rams.

The frame member which is preferably of hollow section steel is preferably provided with a plurality of suitable positioned lugs to facilitate the pivotal attachment of the frame to a front loader on an agricultural tractor. Lugs are also provided on the frame for mounting of the arcuate arms and for operative connection of the relevant hydraulic actuators for both controlled pivotal movement of the frame and of the arcuate arms mounted on said frame.

The invention will be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a first embodiment of a bale handling apparatus of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view; Figure 3 is a side view; Figure 4 is a first perspective view of the apparatus attached to a front loader of an agricultural tractor; Figure 5 is a second perspective view of the apparatus attached to a front loader of an agricultural tractor, with the arcuate arms of the apparatus in position immediately prior to embracing a round bale of hay; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus in a working position; Figure 7 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 8a is an exterior or convex face elevation of an arcuate arm of a further embodiment of the invention;; Figure 8b is an interior or concave face elevation of the arm of Fig. 8a; Figure 9 is a plan view of the arm of Figs. 8a and 8b; Figure 10 is a cross-section of the arm of Fig. 9, taken along the line X--X in that figure and viewed in the direction of the associated arrows; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a frame member for use with the arm of Figs. 8a and 8b, showing in position therein elements from Figs.

12 and 13; Figure 1 2 is a perspective view of a first bracket for supporting the frame member of Fig. 11 on a mechanical handling device; Figure 1 3 is a perspective view of a second bracket for supporting the arcuate arm of Fig. 9 on the frame member of Fig. 11; and Figure 14 is a plan view of the further embodiment of bale handling apparatus.

Referring to Figures 1,2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings the apparatus comprises a hollow section steel frame 10 having pivotally mounted thereon two opposed arcuate arms 11 and 12 of arched angle iron and steel plate or the like suitable material. The pivotal mounting is effected by flange members 13 and 14 on the arcuate arms 11 and 12 respectively which engage respective lugs 1 5 and 1 6 on the frame 10, the flange/lug pairs 13, 15 and 14, 16 being coupled together by respective pivot pins. The pivotal movement of the arms 11 and 12 on the frame 10 is controlled by double-acting hydraulic rams 17 and 18 pivotally connected at each end to brackets 1 9 and 20 respectively on the arms 11 and 12 and lugs 21 and 22 respectively on the frame 10.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the lower edge of the frame 10 is mounted for controlled pivoting about a generally horizontal axis on arms 23 of a conventional front loader of an agricultural tractor 24 by pivotally connecting the free ends of the arms 23 to respective lugs 25 and 26 on the frame 10 and pivotally connecting the hydraulic actuators 27 of the front loader to lugs 28 and 29 on the frame 10. It will be understood that the actuation of the hydraulic actuators 27 through the hydraulic system of the tractor 24 serves to pivot the frame 10 to and from a vertical position as shown in Figure 4 from and to a horizontal position as shown in Figure 5.

The frame 10 pivots on the arms 23 about lugs 25.

The hydraulic rams 1 7 and 18 are also connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor 24 in conventional manner and control the movement of the arcuate arms 11 and 12 respectively, such movement being in a plane generally parallel to the horizontal pivotal axis of the frame 10. When the rams 17 and 18 are retracted the arms 11 and 12 assume a fully open position -- as shown for example in Figure 5 with the arms 11 and 12 spanning a round bale 30 - and when the rams 17 and 18 are extended the arms 11 and 12 pivot towards each other to embrace and hold securely a round bale 30 positioned between said arms 11 and 12.

Referring specifically to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings the manner of operation of the apparatus is clearly illustrated. In order to lift from the ground a round bale 30 in a side lying position, the tractor 24 is driven to the appropriate site with the apparatus as shown in Figure 4. The hydraulic actuators 27 are operated to pivot the frame 10 to a horizontal position and the hydraulic rams 1 7 and 18 retracted to open the arms 11 and 12 such that the apparatus has a position as shown in Figure 5. The hydraulic rams 17 and 18 are extended and the arms 11 and 12 tightly embrace the side lying round bale 30. The hydraulic actuators 27 are again operated to pivot the frame 10 to a vertical position and the front loader arms 23 raised so that the apparatus carries the bale 30 as shown in Figure 6.It will be understood that when a bale 30 is sitting on one of its ends then the bale is gripped by the arms 11 and 12 as described but without any pivotal movement of the frame 1 0.

The bale handling apparatus of the present embodiment has the advantage over known bale handling equipment in that it allows handling of a round bale from a side lying position of the bale and/or an end lying position of the bale. it has the particular advantage that it can lift bales from a side lying position in a field and place the said bale standing on one of its ends on a truck or trailer for transport purposes or in a haggard for storage in a stack in the manner illustrated in Figure 6. It will be readily appreciated that a plurality of bales 30 stored on their ends are both safer and more stable that a plurality of bales 30 lying on their sides one upon the other.

Referring to the second embodiment shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings, the arcuate arms 11 and 12 have a slightly less circular configuration than the embodiment of Figure 2. Further in this instance the arms 11 and 12 are operatively interconnected through linkage arms 31 and 32 pivoted to respective opposite ends of a single acting hydraulic ram 33. It will be readily understood that the expansion and retraction of the ram 33 serves to close the open respectively the arms 11 and 12. It will be appreciated that in this embodiment the arms 11 and 12 move together-they cannot move independently. However the overcost factor on production is reduced since only one single acting hydraulic ram is required to operate the arms 11 and 12.

It will be appreciated that the machinery for the formation of round bales varies in size and capacity and consequently the size of the round bales formed varies from a diameter of say, 4ft to 6ft. for example. In order to allow the bale handling apparatus for the present embodiment to handle round bales of different diameter, it is envisaged that the mounting of the arcuate arms on the frame be adjustable which would allow one to move the pivot mountings for the arms closer together or further apart on the frame as the bale diameter being handled dictates. For this purpose a plurality of pairs of lugs such as 15 and 16 would be provided with different spacing on the frame 10.

It is envisaged that in order to strengthen the pivotal connection between the arcuate arms 11 and 12 and the frame 10 a second set of flange members may be provided on the arms to engage complementary lugs on the frame. Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings the envisaged position of the second pivotal connection 1 3a is indicated in dotted outline. In certain instances where an apparatus is designed for heavy duty work the arcuate arms may be reinforced by making each of the said arms from two jointed pieces of arched angle iron - the second piece of arched angle iron being substituted for the more conventional steel plate shown in the above embodiments.

Referring now to the further embodiment shown in Figures 8a to 14 of the drawings, the bale handling apparatus (see especially Fig. 14) comprises a frame member 40, a pair of arcuate arms 41, 42, a pair of double-acting hydraulic rams 47, 48, a pair of first brackets 45, 46 and a pair of second brackets 49, 50.

The arcuate arm 41, first bracket 45 and second bracket 49 are constructed as mirror images respectively of arcuate arm 42, first bracket 46 and second bracket 50; thus most of the following description refers to arm 41 and brackets 45, 49 only.

The arcuate arm 41 (Figs. 8a, 8b, 9) comprises a pair of arcuate members 51,52, a set of cross rails 53, a pair of flange members 54 having aligned holes 55, and a reinforcing beam 56 bearing a pair of lugs 57 likewise having aligned holes 58.

Each of the arcuate members 51,52 comprises a matched pair of angle sections 43 welded together face to face (see Fig. 10) so as to present aligned free edges 44 which project inwardly from the concave face of the arcuate arm 41. Each cross rail 53 comprises an angle section arranged with its ridge likewise projecting inwardly.

The first bracket 45 (Fig. 12) comprises a first bracket plate 66 and a first retainer 67 having matching sets of bolt holes 68. The first bracket plate 66 bears an upper set of three vertical lugs 69 with aligned holes 70, and a lower set of two vertical lugs 71 with aligned holes 72.

The second bracket 45 (Fig. 13) comprises a second bracket plate 59 and a second retainer 60 having matching sets of bolt holes 61. The second bracket plate 59 bears a first pair of horizontal lugs 62 with aligned holes 63 and a second pair of horizontal lugs 64 with aligned holes 65.

The frame member 40 is of box-section steel comprising three parallel beams 401,402,403 and two end rails 404. It has a rear face 405 and a front face 406. Thus there are formed between beams 401 and 402 an upper track 407 and between beams 402 and 403 a lower track 408.

On the rear face 405, the beam 402 carries a pair of vertical lugs 409 with aligned holes.

In use, the first bracket 45 is fixed to the frame member 40 by locating the first retainer 67 in the lower track 408 thereof as shown in Fig. 11, locating the first bracket plate 66 against the rear face 405 of the frame member 40 and bolting it to the first retainer 67 using the matched bolt holes 68. The other first bracket 46 is similarly fixed, to give a symmetrically disposed pair of first brackets (Fig. 14).

Likewise, in use, the second bracket 49 is fixed to the frame member 40 by locating the second retainer 60 in the upper track 407 as shown in Fig.

11, locating the second bracket plate 59 against the front face 406 of the frame member 40 and bolting it to the second retainer 60 using the matched bolt holes 61. The other second bracket 50 is similarly fixed, to give a symmetrically disposed pair of second brackets (Fig. 14).

The arcuate arm 41 is pivotally mounted on the fixed second bracket 49 by means of a pin passing through the respective aligned holes 55, 63 of the arm 41 and of the horizontal lugs 62. The hydraulic ram 47 is fitted between the arm 41 and the frame member 40 by pivotal mounting of its respective ends between the lugs 57 of the arm 41 and the horizontal lugs 64 of the second bracket 49. The other arcuate arm 42 and hydraulic ram 48 are similarly assembled to the other fixed first bracket 50 and frame member 40.

The rams 47, 48 serve in use to pivotally move the arms 41, 42 thereby to grasp or release a bale.

In use, again, each front loader arm of a tractor (not shown) is pivotally secured between a respective pair of vertical lugs 71 on first bracket plate 66 of first bracket 45 and a similar pair of lugs on the other first bracket 46, for raising and lowering the apparatus.

In use, again, the front loading elements of the tractor bear either a single, centrally disposed hydraulic ram or a symmetrically disposed pair of hydraulic rams, of which use is made to tilt the apparatus. When only a single said ram is present, its free end is pivotally coupled between the lugs 409. When a pair of rams is present, each is pivotally coupled between a respective pair of adjacent lugs 69 on the first bracket 45 and the other or corresponding first bracket 46. These alternative locations are provided to take account of the fact that the relevant hydraulic rams are spaced apart to slightly different distances on different commercial tractors. Gross adjustment is, of course, always possible by varying the spacing apart of the first brackets 45, 46 on the frame member 40. The spacing between the brackets 49 and 50 is likewise adjustable to provide for adjusting the distance apart of the pivotal mountings for the arms 41, 42 to accommodate bales of different sizes.

It will be appreciated that the projection of the free edges 44 inwardly from the concave face of the arcuate arm 41, and the similar inward projection of the ridges of the cross-rails 53, and similar provisions on the other arcuate arm 42, ensure a firm, non-slipping grip of the arms around a bale.

It is observed finally that the apparatus, when divested of the arcuate arms 41, 42, can be used to carry attached appliances of many kinds on the front loader arms of a mechanical handling vehicle, as for example a buck rake, a pair of forklift tines, a sludge bucket or a dozer plate.

Claims (13)

1. A bale handling apparatus for use with generally cylindrical bales, the apparatus comprising a frame member adapted for pivotal mounting on a mechanical handling device, a pair of opposed arcuate arms extending outwardly from the frame, the arms being mounted on the frame for relative movement towards and away from one another, and means for controlling the relative movement of the arms so as to permit the apparatus to pick up and release a bale when desired.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame member is adapted for pivoting about a generally horizontal axis, and the relative movement of the arms is in a plane generally parallel to the said horizontal axis.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the arms are pivotally mounted on the frame member, the pivotal axis of each arm being generally perpendicular to the horizontal pivotal axis of the frame member.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spacing between the pivotal mounting points of each arm on the frame member is adjustable.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the frame member is generally flat with the horizontal pivotal axis thereof disposed on the opposite side of the flat frame member to the arcuate arms.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame member is of hollow section steel provided with apertured lugs for said pivotal mounting.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the controlling means comprises at least one hydraulic ram.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controlling means comprises a single hydraulic ram connected at each end to a respective arcuate arm.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controlling means comprises a pair of hydraulic rams each connected between the frame member and a respective arcuate arm.

1 0. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising hydraulic means for controlling the pivotal movement of the frame member relative to the mechanical handling device.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each arm comprises at ieast one member of angle section extending along the length thereof, such member having a free edge which extends inwardly towards the other arm to assist in gripping a bale.

12. A bale handling apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6, Fig. 7 or Figs. 8a to 14 of the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.