GB2138389A

GB2138389A - Apparatus for transporting and unrolling cylindrical bales

Info

Publication number: GB2138389A
Application number: GB08306401A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graeme Hotham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-08
Filing date: 1983-03-08
Publication date: 1984-10-24
Also published as: GB2138389B; GB8306401D0

Abstract

A pair of parallel spaced box girders 2 are secured to the rear of a tractor. An arm 8 is pivotally mounted between the box girders 2 about a vertical pivot pin 9. In the position shown, a stay bar 20 holds the arm 8 extending rearwardly, the arm 8 being movable to that position by a hydraulic jack 17. A central spike 11 axially engages the cylindrical bale 24, and a number of other spikes 16, extending parallel with the central spike, engage and grip the inner portion of the bale. The spikes 16 are mounted on a flange including a tyre 15 on its outer rim, the flange itself being mounted on the central spike 11 which is rotatably mounted on the arm 8. The bale is lowered into contact with the ground and the tractor is moved forwards to leave a flat wad or swathe 23 on the ground. When the diameter of the bale is sufficiently reduced the tyre 15 contacts the ground to continue to impart rotational movement to the bale. In order to pick up a fresh bale, the stay bar 20 is detached from the position shown, and the hydraulic jack 17 withdraws the arm 8 until it lies between the girders 2. The tractor can then be reversed to drive the spikes into a new bale. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for transporting and unrolling cylindrical bales This invention relates to apparatus for use in transporting and unrolling cylindrical bales.

Conventionally, the baling of agricultural materials such as hay and straw has been effected by compressing the material into rectangular bales some 40 centimetres by 60 centimetres by 120 centimetres in size. Such bales are small enough to permit them to be handled manually, and being formed with relatively low compression, can easily be broken down by hand when the material is required for use. But the rectangular baling technique often leads to the production of irregular bales in varying degrees of compaction which are liable to disintegration during handling.

The difficulties which can arise in the handling of rectangular bales in the increasingly mechanised farm environment has lead to the development of new baling methods which produce large cylindrical bales and which are also capable of baling silage.

Silage bales produced by the new method are typically half a tonne in weight, 110 centimetres in diameter, and produced by simultaneously compacting and rolling up a wad or swathe of silage 15 to 30 centimetres thick, 150 centimetres wide and 10 to 15 metres long. This technique has the merit of facilitating the rapid handling of large quantities of material.

Also, because it achieves substantially greater compaction of the material, storage spaces such as barns or the like can be used to store a greater quantity of material.

However, cylindrical bales are too bulky and heavy to permit manual handling, and their compaction makes breakdown difficult when required for use. It is among the objects of the present invention therefore to provide apparatus which can be used to unroll cylindrical bales and permit their structure to be manually loosened in the unrolled condition.

The invention therefore provides apparatus for use in the transporting and unrolling of cylindrical bales, comprising a frame for mounting on a vehicle, means for engaging with a cylindrical bale so as to support the bale with its axis substantially horizontal and permit rotation of the bale about said axis, and support means on said frame in which said engaging means is supported for rotation about a vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the bale.

In one aspect the apparatus of the invention comprises a frame for mounting on a vehicle, a support arm pivoted in said frame for movement between a first position and a second position, and at least one substantially horizontal spike, carried by said arm for axially engaging and supporting a cylindrical bale.

With the frame mounted on one end of a vehicle for controllable vertical movement, and the support arm secured in the first position, the support spike or spikes can be driven by vehicle movement into penetrative engagement through one end of a bale to be unrolled. The frame is then raised, so that the bale is supported by the spike or spikes above the ground, and the support arm and bale swung to and secured in the second position. The frame is then lowered to contact the bale with the ground, and the bale then unrolled by movement of the vehicle in the appropriate direction. It will be appreciated that the bale may be transported as required with the support arm in the first position before the unrolling sequence is commenced.

The frame may comprise a separate structure which can be secured to or detached from a vehicle such as a tractor as required in a similar manner to other farm implements. Alternatively, the frame may comprise part of the vehicle structure if the vehicle is dedicated to the handling of bales in the manner above described. Thus, for example, an apparatus according to the invention may be substituted for the fork assembly of a forklift truck.

The arm may be mounted so as to pivot onto one side or the other of the frame. In one embodiment, the arm is mounted in the frame by removable vertical pins at each end which can act interchangeably as pivot and locking pins, so that the selection side ofthe vehicle on which unrolling is to take place can be made at the chosen location. Means of securing the arm in the second position may comprise a stay bar which is connected between brackets welded to the arm and the frame. Alternatively, a hydraulic jack may be connected between the arm and frame for moving the arm from the first to the second position. This is of particular value when this movement is being effected on a hill so as to overcome the gravitational effect.

Preferably, a single central spike is welded to the arm, the spike carrying thereon a rotatable sleeve having a flange for spacing the bale from the arm and facilitating rotation. The flange may carry a tyre at its rim for engagement with the ground when the bale has been unrolled sufficiently that the residue of rolled bale is of lesser diameter than the flange. The flange may also carry further spikes extending outwardly in parallel to the central spike for engagement in the bale. These provide both additional support for the bale and assist in causing it to rotate when the tyre is in contact with the ground.

In another aspect, the apparatus of the invention comprises a frame for mounting on a vehicle, at least one substantially horizontal spike for axially engaging and supporting a cylindrical bale, a carrier for said spike or spikes, and journal means secured on said frame in which said carrier is journalled for rotation about a vertical axis substantially above the mid point of a bale when engaged on said spike or spikes.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is a rear view, partly in section, of one embodiment of apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view on the line II - II of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side elevation on the line Ill - Ill of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a plan view similar to Figure 2, but showing the apparatus of the invention in the second operative position, Figure 5 is a rear elevation, corresponding to Figure 1 of a second embodiment of apparatus according to the invention, Figure 6 is a rear view of a third embodiment of apparatus according to the invention, Figure 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, on the line VII - VII of Figure 6, and Figure 8 is a plan view on the line VIII - VIII of Figure 7.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the apparatus shown comprises a frame 1 consisting a frame 1 consisting of a pair of horizontal box girders 2 secured in spaced parallel relation by a pair of channels 3 welded to the front faces thereof. At their lower ends, each of the channels 3 is formed with a pair of forwardly extending lugs 4 formed with aligned holes 5 for connection to a tractor or other vehicle. A vertical sampson post 5 is welded to the upper box girder 2 at a central position and carries a further pair of forwardly extending lugs 6 formed with apertures 7 for connection to a tractor or other vehicle.

An arm 8 formed buy a box girder of similar cross-section to the box girders 2 is located there between and pivoted at one end by a vertical pivot pin 9 extending between the box girders 2. At a position on the arm 8 midway between the ends of the arms 2 a horizontal bearing 10 is provided in which a horizontal rotatable spike 11 is journalled for rotation. Close to the arm 8, the spike 11 carries a spacer sleeve 12 from the outer end of which a wheel disc 13 radially extends. The wheel disc 13 carries at its periphery a wheel rim 14 carrying a pneumatic or solid tyre 15. The wheel disk 13 has welded thereto a pair of subsidiary spikes 16 extending outwardly in parallel relation to the spike 11.

The operation of the device will now be described with particular reference to Figures 2 and 4. The apparatus of the invention is initially mounted by means of the lugs 4 and 6 on a vehicle, typically a tractor, in the position shown in Figure 2 so that the spike 11 projects rearwardly from the tractor. The height of the device is then adjusted to that of the core of a cylindrical bale to be transported and the tractor reversed so as to cause the spikes 11 and 16 to penetrate the bale. The apparatus is then raised together with the bale supported on the spikes.

The tractor can then be readily driven to the location where the bale is required to be unrolled. At this point, arm 8 is swung through 90 about the pivot 9 together with the bale. This movement may optionally be assisted by the use of a hydraulic jack shown in broken lines at 17 and connected into the hydraulic system of the tractor through a connector 18. Where a jack 17 is used, one end is connected to a lug 19 welded to the front face of the arm 8 and the other end (not shown) is secured to a suitable central position on the main frame of the tractor. The arm 8 is held in its second position by a stay bar 20 also engaging in the lug 19 at one end and pivoted at the other end in a lug 21 welded on the rear face of the other box girder 2.When not in use, the stay bar 20 is supported near its free end in a channel support22 welded to the rear face of the upper box girder 2 near to the pivot 9.

After the arm 8 has been moved to the position shown in Figure 4, the apparatus is lowered until the bale is in contact with the ground. Forward movement of the tractor will then cause the bale to unroll leaving the flat wad or swathe 23 from which the bale 24 is constituted lying on the ground. As the bale progressively reduces in diameter during vehi cle movement, a stage is reached at which the weight of the bale may be insufficient to provide the traction to unroll it. At this stage, the tyre 15 contacts the ground and provides the necessary supplemental traction, transmitting the necessary rotary motion to the bale through the spikes 16.

Turning now to Figure 5, this shows a second embodiment of the invention in which a number of the components are substantially identical to those comprising the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3.

Similar components are therefore identified by the same reference numerals and will not be further described.

In this embodiment however an arm 28, formed from a box girder of substantially the same dimensions as the box girders 2, is provided. The arm 28 has a spike 11 journalled therein in a central position as in the previously described embodiment, and is held between the box girders 2 by a pair of removable vertical pins 29 extending through the three components as shown. In the starting position as shown, the pins 26 merely act as retainer pins, but either can be removed so that the second pin can act as a pivot pin in the manner of the pin 9 ofthefirst embodiment. This embodiment therefore permits a bale carried on a spike 11 to be swung in either direction for unrolling.

So as to prevent the arm 28 from binding on the lower of the box girders 2 as it is being swung, spacer rings 27 are welded to the upper and lower places of the arm 28 at the pivot position, as best seen in the inset. It will also be appreciated that a hydraulic jack 17 and stay bar 20 as described above with reference to Figure 4 may also be included for use with this embodiment as desired.

Figures 6,7 and 8 show a third embodiment of the invention whereby the bale can be rotated through 90 about its vertical centreline. This embodiment has advantages for use in hilly terrain in which use of the apparatus of Figures 1 or 2 might produce unacceptable side loadings on the vehicle on which the apparatus is mounted.

Referring first to Figures 6 and 7, the apparatus shown comprises a horizontal box girder 30 having a vertical sampson post 31 welded centrally thereto.

The ends of the box girder 30 and the upper end of the sampson post have apertured lugs 32 welded thereto for connection of the apparatus to a tractor or other vehicle.

At its upper end, the sampson post 31 carries a horizontal spur girder 33 projecting in the opposite direction to the lugs 32. At its end, the spur girder 33 has an inwardly opening ring channel 34 welded thereto.

A pair of axially aligned rollers 35 are journalled in the ends of a box girder 36 so as to run on the track formed by the lower limb 37 of the ring channel 34.

The box girder 36 has a dependent section 38, in the lower end of which a horizontal bearing 39 is set. A spike 40 is journalled for rotation in the bearing 39 and carries a wheel disc 41 ,tyre 42 and subsidiary spikes 43 in substantially the same manner as the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4.

At its lower end, the dependent section 38 also carries an apertured retainer bracket 44 in which the hooked end 45 of a stay bar 46 engages. As best seen in Figure 8, the stay bar 46 is connected at its other end to a ring 47 welded to one end of the box girder 30.

In use, the apparatus in mounted on a vehicle, typically a tractor, by means of the lugs 32 in a similar manner to the first two embodiments. The height of the device is then adjusted to align the spike 40 with the core of a cylindrical bale and the vehicle moved to drive the spikes 40 and 43 into the bale.

The apparatus is then raised together with the bale supported on the spikes and the vehicle driven to the Ibcation where the bale is to be unrolled. The hooked end 45 of the stay bar 46 is then disconnected from the bracket 44 and the bale rotated through 90 about a vertical axis through its mid point, as best seen in Figure 8. The hooked end 45 of the stay bar is then reconnected with the bracket 44 in the new position.

The bale can now be unrolled by movement of the vehicle as previously described with reference to the first embodiment. Since the bale is in this case supported at all times substantially on the centre line of the vehicle however, this embodiment is more suited to use on hilly or other terrain where the vehicle stability is of greater importance.

Although the use of spikes is preferred for engaging and supporting the bale, it will be appreciated that other forms of support elements may be used.

For example the bale may be clamped between shallow coniform wheel discs which engage the ends of the bale with their convex sides, the discs being provided with tyres as described with reference to the first embodiment.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in the transporting and unrolling of cylindrical bales comprising a frame for mounting on a vehicle, engaging means for engaging with a cylindrical bale so as to support the bale with its axis substantially horizontal and permit rotation of the bale about said axis, and support means on said frame in which said engaging means is supported for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the support means includes a support arm arranged to support the engaging means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which the support arm is pivotally movable from the first position to the second position, and in which, when the arm is pivotally moved from the first position to the second position the arm move to one side or to either side of the frame.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which the arm is pivotally mounted in the frame by removable vertical pins at each end which can act interchangeably as pivot and locking pins. r

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or4 including means for securing the arm in the second position.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 in which the means for securing the arm in the second position comprise a stay bar which is connected between brackets welded to the arm and the frame.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 6 including a hydraulic jack connected between the arm and the frame for moving the arm from the first position to the second position.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 in which the bale is arranged to be supported in both the first and second positions substantially on the centre line of a vehicle, when the frame is mounted on a vehicle.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the engaging means includes at least one substantially horizontal spike.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 when dependent on Claims 1,2,3 or 8 in which the support means includes a carrier for the spike or spikes, and journal means secured on the frame in which the carrier is journalled for rotation about a vertical axis substantially above the mid point of a bale when engaged on the spike or spikes.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 or 10 in which a central spike carries thereon a rotatable sleeve having a flange.

12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 in which the flange carries a tyre at its rim.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 or 12 in which the flange carries further spikes.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the frame is arranged to be mounted on one end of a vehicle for controllable vertical movement.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the frame may be secured to or detached from a vehicle.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 14 in which the frame comprises part of a vehicle structure.

17. Apparatus substantially as herein specifically described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 and 5 or Figures 6to 8 of the accompanying drawings.