GB2080758A - Bale transporters - Google Patents

Abstract

A bale transporter has a wheeled body (1) and a bale-supporting frame (7) which is mounted on the body so that it can be pivoted between pick-up and transport positions. The frame has a back member and two side members which are pivotable towards and away from each other. In the pick-up position the side members project over the ground surface beyond the rear end of the wheeled body (1) and the back member is rearwardly inclined so that the bale- supporting frame (7) can be manoeuvred into position around a pyramidal stack of three large cylindrical bales of hay (29) and the side members can be pivoted towards each other to grip upright sides of such stack. In the transport position the back member extends horizontally over the body (1) and the side members are upright so that the gripped stack is supported securely on the wheeled body (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bale transporters This invention relates to a bale transporter.

Our earlier British Patent No. 1,548,415 describes a bale transporter which can be used to pick up and transport large rectangular stacks made up of many small individual rectangular bales of hay. An object of the present invention is to provide a baletranspor- ter suitable for use with large cylindrical bales.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a bale transporter comprising a body with ground wheels thereon, and a bale-supporting frame pivotally mounted on said body, said frame having a back member and two projecting side members which are movable towards and away from each other respectively to grip and release bales therebetween, and said frame being pivotable between a pick-up position at which said side members project over the ground surface beyond a rear end of said wheeled body and said back member is inclined to the vertical away from said rear end and a transport position at which said side members project upwardly and said back member extends in generally level disposition over said body.

This arrangement is particularly suitable for use with large cylindrical bales. In the pick-up position the inclination of the back member and the disposition of the side members facilitate secure gripping of one or a pyramidal stack of a small number of such bales; and in the transport position such bale or stack of bales can be conveniently and securely held in position on the wheeled body.

The wheeled body may be of any suitable form but preferably is a trailer body having said wheels only at the rear of the body, the front end of the body having a coupling thereat for example for connection to a tractor linkage. The bale-supporting frame may be pivotally mounted on a support structure at the rear end of the wheeled body and a hydraulic actuator may be provided for effecting pivoting.

Such actuator may be arranged to be powered from a tractor hydraulic system in conventional manner.

The body may comprise a central rigid beam structure extending from front to rear of the body and the frame may be adapted to engage and rest on this structure in the said transport position.

The back member of the frame may be of any suitable construction and thus, for example, may comprise a pair of spaced-apart parallel longitudinally extending beams linked by transverse cross-bars.

The side members may comprise skeleton frame structures and may be hinged to ends of said transverse cross-bars. The side members may be of generally triangular form thereby to correspond to the pyramidal form of a stack of bales wiien supported on the back member between the side members in the transport position. A hydraulic actuator may be provided for effecting movement of the side members and such actuator may be adapted to be powered from a tractor hydraulic system in conventional manner.

The invention also provides a method of transporting bales using a bale transporter comprising a body with ground wheels thereon and a bale-supporting frame pivotally mounted on said body, said frame having a back member and two projecting side members which are movable towards and away from each other, wherein three said bales are disposed in a pyramidal stack on a ground surface, said frame is pivoted relative to said body to a pick-up position at which said side members project beyond a rear end of said wheeled body over said ground surface adjacent opposite upright sides of said stack and said back member extends alongside an inclined fron of said stack, said side members are pivoted towards each other to grip said upright sides of said stack, and said frame is pivoted together with said gripped stack to a transport position at which said side members project upwardly and said back members extend in generally level disposition over said body.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the bale-supporting frame in the pick-up position of one form of a bale transporter according to the invention; Figures 2a and 2b are diagrammatic side views showing the frame of the bale transporter respectively in the pick-up and the transport positions; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a part of the transporter; and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2a of an alternative embodiment.

The transporter is for use in picking up and transporting large cylindrical bales of hay and comprises a wheeled trailer body 1 which can be towed by a conventional kind of agricultural tractor.

The body 1 has a pair of side-by-side rigid metal beams 2 which are secured at a front end thereof to a coupling 3 suitable for connection to the usual tractor towing linkage. At the rear end the beams 2 are secured to a rigid transverse supporting structure 4 on which a pair of ground wheels 5 are rotatably mounted. On the structure 4 there is a pair of spaced upstanding brackets 6 on which a balesupporting frame 7 is pivotally mounted.

The bale-supporting frame 7 has a back member 8 defined by a pair of parallel metal beams 9 rigidly linked in spaced disposition by means of cross-bars 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 extending transversely across the beams 9 and welded thereto. The beams 9 have straight central portions 15andend portions 16,17 inclined in a direction away from the wheeled body 1. The ends of the beams 9 are linked by respective said cross-bars 10, 14 which terminate at such ends.

The straight central portions 15 are linked by three said cross-bars 11, 12, 13 which have extensions which project beyond the beams 9 by the same amount in each case.

Two side members 18 are hingedly mounted on the free ends of the projecting extensions of the cross-bars 11, 12, 13 respectively at opposite sides of the back member 8. Each side member 18 comprises three rigid metal beams 19, 20, 21 extending parallel to each other and connected via hinge joints to the respective cross-bar extensions. The two outer beams 19, 21 are of a common length approximately half that of the central beam 20. The ends of the outer beams 19, 21 remote from the hinges are rigidly joined together and to the central region of the centre beam 20 by means of a welded transverse beam 22. The end of the centre beam 20 remote from the hinge is rigidly linked by welded further beams 23, 24 to the adjacent ends of the outer beams 19, 21 thereby defining a triangular skeleton framework at the outermost portion of the side member 18.An additional beam 25 is secured in parallel spaced disposition relative to the further beam 24 of the side member 18.

The pivotal mounting of the bale-supporting frame on the brackets 6 is effected by means of pivotal interconnection of the inclined beam end portions 17 at one end of the back member 8 with such brackets 6. The cross-bar 14 linking the ends of such end portions 17 is connected to the wheeled body via a cranked lever 26 such lever 26 being connected at one end to the cross-bar 14 via a pivotal link, passing beneath the transverse supporting structure 4 and being pivotally connected at its other end to a bracket on top of such structure 4. A hydraulic actuator 27 is mounted beneath the wheeled body 1 and is adapted to be connected to the tractor hydraulic system.By appropriate operation of the actuator 27, the frame 7 can be pivoted between a pick-up position (Figure 2b) at which the straight central portions 15 of the beams 9 of the back member 8 are inclined slightly to the vertical rearwardly away from the wheeled body 1 and the side members 18 project beyond the rear end of the body 1 with the additional members 25 extending in closely spaced parallel disposition relative to the ground surface, and a transport position (Figure 2a) at which the back member 8 rests on the beams 2 of the body 1 whereby the central portions 15 of the back member beams 9 are generally horizontal and the side members 18 project vertically upwardly. in the pick-up position, the inclination of the central portions 15 (which is about 30 to the vertical) is maintained by engagement of the bottom portions 17 with the structure 4.

The side members 18 are linked by a hydraulic actuator 28 extending between the central beams 20 adjacent and parallel to the central cross-beam 12 of the back member 8. The actuator 28 is, like the actuator 27, adapted for connection to the tractor hydraulic system. By operation of the actuator 28 the side members 18 can be pivoted towards and away from each other.

In use, the transporter is towed (with the frame 7 in the transport position) by a tractor to the vicinity of a pyramidal stack of three large cylindrical bales of hay 29. With the side members 18 moved apart to positions at which they are generally parallel to each other, the frame 7 is moved to the pick-up position and the transporter is appropriately manoeuvred such that the side members 18 fit alongside opposite vertical sides of the stack and the back member 8 extends closely alongside an inclined side of the stack. The side members 18 are then moved towards each other thereby securely to grip the stack and the frame 7 is pivoted back to the transport position.The stack of bales is thereby conveniently transferred to the transporter and is held securely thereon by means of the side members 18 and with the assistance ofthe upturned beams end portions 16, 17 of the back member 8. If desired, the side members 18 may have inwardly projecting elements, such as flanges, spikes or the like thereon to facilitate gripping.

The stack can then be conveniently and safely transported to a desired location whereat unloadirX' can be effected by pivoting the frame back to the pick-up position and releasing the grip of the side members.

The three bales 29 can be picked up and manoeuvred into position to form the said pyramidal stack with the assistance of the bale transporter before using the transporter to pick up and transport the entire stack. In this case one or more of the bales can be picked up and then deposited in position individually using the apex part ofthe triangular side members for gripping purposes (i.e. with the individual bale in the position of the top bale as shown in Figure 2b).

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. Thus for example and as shown in Figure 4 in place of the side members 18 it is possible to use side members 30 also of triangular form and each having a central beam 31, outer beams 32,33, further beams 34,35 and a transverse beam 36, but wherein the transverse beam is closer to the back member 9 than is the case with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. Also, the additional beam 25 is omitted and instead to ensurefirm gripping a plate 37 is secured to the apex and a shaped projecting element 38 is secured to the beam 35 of each side member 30.

Moreover, the beams 20 may have end portions projecting rearwardly beyond the pivots on the cross-bar 11 and the actuator 28 may be arranged between such end portions whereby such actuator is extended, rather than contracting, in order to move the side members 18 toward each other.

Further, whilst reference is made herein to the use of the transporter with large cylindrical bales of hay it is to be understood that the transporter may be used in like manner with bales of different sizes (e.g.

large square or rectangular cross-section bales) N composed of hay or straw or any other suitable - material.

It will be observed that the transporter can be utilised to provide a complete bale handling function i.e. the transporter can lift, carry and stack bales one or more at a time as well as transporting stacked such bales. As described above with reference to the drawings, the back member 8 is rearwardly inclined at an angle of about 300 to the vertical and the side members 18 define structures generally of the form of equilateral triangles. This arrangement is particu- larly suitable for use in picking up and transporting triangular pyramidal bale stacks. The member 8 is required to move through an angle of about 120 between the pick-up and transport positions and said movement is pertictriarly-lasil > al.:the cranked lever 26 and pivotal link.

Claims (27)

1. A bale transporter comprising a body with ground wheels thereon and a bale-supporting frame pivotally mounted on said body, said frame having a back member and two projecting side members which are movable towards and away from each other respectively to grip and release bales therebetween, and said frame being pivotable between a pick-up position at which said side members project over the ground surface beyond a rear end of said wheeled body and said back member is inclined to the vertical away from said rear end and a transport position at which said side members project upwardly and said back member extends in generally level disposition over said body.

2. A transporter according to claim 1, wherein said wheeled body comprises a central rigid beam construction extending from front to rear of the body and the said bale-supporting frame is adapted to engage and rest on this construction in the said transport position.

3. Atransporter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the said bale-supporting frame is pivotally mounted on a support structure at the rear end of the wheeled body.

4. A transporter according to claim 3, wherein said support structure comprises a transverse beam construction.

5. A transporter according to claim 4, wherein said frame is pivotally mounted on said structure via upstanding brackets rigidly secured to said transverse beam construction.

6. A transporter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, including a first hydraulic actuator for effecting said pivoting of said bale-supporting frame.

7. A transporter according to claim 6, wherein a cranked lever is pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof respectively to said wheeled body and to said bale-supporting frame and said hydraulic actuator is operatively connected to said lever between said ends thereof.

8. Atransporter according to claim 7, wherein said lever is pivotally connected to said frame via the intermediary of a pivotal link.

9. A transporter according to claim 7 or 8, and claim 4 or 5 wherein said lever passes beneath said transverse beam construction.

10. A transporter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said back member of said balesupporting frame comprises side-by-side spacedapart longitudinally extending beams linked by spaced-apart transverse cross-bars.

11. A transporter according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said back member of said balesupporting frame has a bottom part which abuts the wheeled body in the said pick-up position to restrict further pivoting of said frame.

12. Atransporter according to claim 11 when dependent on claim 4 or 5, wherein said bottom part is adapted to abut said transverse beam construction.

13. A transporter according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said back member of said balesupporting frame has a bottom part which is inclined rearwardly away from a straight central part thereof.

14. A transporter according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said back member of said balesupporting frame has a top part which is inclined rearwardly away from a straight central part thereof.

15. Atransporter according to claim 10 or any claim dependent thereon and any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein said lever is pivotally connected to a bottom said transverse cross-bar of the said back member.

16. A transporter according to claim 10 or any claim dependent thereon wherein said side members are pivotally connected to ends of ones of said cross-bars of the said back member.

17. Atransporter according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said side members are structures of generallytriangularform each having an apex thereof remote from said back member.

18. A transporter according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein each said side member is a skeleton frame structure formed from interconnected elongate members.

19. A transporter according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein a second hydraulic actuator is provided for effecting movement of the side members.

20. A transporter according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein said wheeled body is a trailer body adapted to be coupled to a tractor to be drawn thereby.

21. A transporter according to claim 20, when dependent on claim 6 and/or claim 19, wherein the or each said actuator is adapted to be powered by a hydraulic system of said tractor.

22. A bale transporter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of transporting bales using a bale transporter comprising a body with ground wheels thereon and a bale-supporting frame pivotally mounted on said body, said frame having a back member and two projecting side members which are movable towards and away from each other, wherein three said bales are disposed in a pyramidal stack on a ground surface, said frame is pivoted relative to said body to a pick-up position at which the said side members project beyond a rear end of said wheeled body over said ground surface adjacent opposite upright sides of said stack and said back member extends alongside an inclined front of said stack, said side members are pivoted towards each other to grip said upright sides of said stack, and said frame is pivoted together with said gripped stack to a transport position at which said side members project upwardly and said back member extends in a generally level disposition over said body.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said stack is formed using said transporter to pick up and manoeuvre said bale.

25. A method according to claim 23 or 24, using the transporter of any one of claims 1 to 22.

26. A method according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein said bales are cylindrical.

27. A method according to claim 23, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.