GB2142901A

GB2142901A - Tined apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2142901A
Application number: GB08317690A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Montford Spence
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-06-29
Filing date: 1983-06-29
Publication date: 1985-01-30
Also published as: GB8317690D0; GB2142901B

Abstract

The frame (4) of a back plate mounts horizontal tines (9). Arms (8) have outer arms (13) pivoted thereto at (16), the outer arms (13) being coupled by a front cross member which mounts further tines (14). Z-shaped pusher arms (21) are secured to the front cross member and hydraulic rams (18, 19) couple the outer arms (13) to the back plate. The loading position for the tined apparatus is shown in full lines. After loading of loose material onto the tines (9), by forward movement of the apparatus, the rams (18, 19) are extended to move the further tines (14) and pusher arms (21) to the chain dotted line position so as to effect a raking action. When unloading is required the rams (18, 19) are fully retracted to move the further tines (14) and pusher arms (21) to the dotted line position, the pusher arms pushing the loose material off the tines (9) as they move to the dotted line position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tined apparatus The invention relates to tined apparatus.

Tined apparatus is known which can be attached to fork arms of a tractor, the tines being substantially horizontal and being pressed into loose matter to be lifted, such as silage, and then being raised to transport the loose matter supported on the tines. Further hooked tines are frequently provided mounted above the horizontal tines and to be pivoted in an arc thereby to pull the loose matter onto the horizontal tines and to retain it from falling off the front of the horizontal tines as it is being transported, which usually involves reversing and forward movements of the tractor.

Difficulties can occur however with loose but dense and wet material, again such a silage, in that when it is required to unload the loose matter from the horizontal tines, the loose matter sticks thereto and cannot easily be disengaged from the horizontal tines or can be disengaged only with difficulty, which difficulty may involve shaking of the fork arms and undesired spreading of the loose matter over a large area.

According to the invention tined apparatus comprises a member mounting generally horizontal tines, a frame mounting further tines, the frame being pivotally mounted on said member and coupled to said member by actuating means whereby the frame can be pivoted on said member to cause the further tines to effect a raking action to draw matter to be lifted onto the horizontal tines, the frame including pusher means which upon movement of the frame to raise the further tines, applies a force to push material supported on the horizontal tines off the front ends of the horizontal tines.

Preferably the actuating means are a pair of hydraulic cylinders acting on the frame at positions spaced from the pivot thereof.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of tined apparatus according to the invention in a loading position; Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Fig. 1 moved into a closed position for transport of material; Figure 3 shows the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 in an eject position and, Figure 4 is an end view corresponding to Figs. 1 to 3 and showing in full lines the position corresponding to Fig. 1, in dotted lines the position corresponding to Fig. 2 and in chain dotted lines the position corresponding to Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a mounting framework 1 comprises an upright back plate 2 with side members 3 and 4, a bottom member 5, a top member 6 and forwardly projecting arms 7 and 8. A plurality, seven as shown, of horizontal tines 9 are mounted on the bottom member 5. A further frame 10 comprises a front member 11, side members 12 and 13 and further, curved tines 14, the side members 1 2 and 1 3 being pivotally mounted by pivot pins 1 5 and 1 6 on the arms 7 and 8 respectively.A pin 1 7 is mounted in each arm of the side members 12, 1 3 and is coupled to the rod 18 of a respective hydraulic cylinder 1 9. Also rigidly mounted on the frame 10 is a sub-frame 20 comprising four generally Z-shaped levers 21 each secured, preferably by welding at one end to the front bar 11 of the frame 10, secured at their other ends to a common transverse bar 22 and connected by intermediate transverse bars 23 and 24.

In operation the frame 1 is mounted on a tractor, particularly on fork arms thereof by coupling means not shown but provided at the rear of the back plate 2. To pick-up a load a loose material to be carried on the tines 9 the tractor is driven forwardly with the further tines 14 in the raised position of Fig. 1, that is to say with the rods 18 partially retracted into the cylinders 1 9 so that the further tines 14 are in a raised position. In this position the middle portions of the Z-shaped levers 21 are in a horizontal orientation above the tines 9.

After the tines 9 have been fully engaged in the material to be lifted the rods 18 are moved fully out of the cylinders 1 9 to the position of Fig. 2 in which the further tines 14 are so located as to prevent the loose material falling off the front edges of the tines 9. In fact the lowering movement of the further frame 10 as it moves from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2 will draw more material onto the tines 9 and compact the material already thereon.

When the tractor has been moved to a position at which the material carried on the tines 9 is to be unloaded, the rods 18 are drawn fully into the cylinders 1 9 to pivot the further tines 14 to the raised position of Fig.

3 and thereby cause the sub-frame 20 of the frame 10 to pivot to the position of Fig. 3 in which the middle portions of the levers 21 are in a position in which they extend vertically downwards, movement of the sub-frame 20 into such a position ejecting the material which was carried on the tines 9 off the front edge thereof.

1. Tined apparatus comprising a member mounting generally horizontal tines, a frame mounting further tines, the frame being pivotally mounted on said member and coupled to said member by actuating means whereby the frame can be pivoted on said member to cause the further tines to effect a raking

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tined apparatus The invention relates to tined apparatus. Tined apparatus is known which can be attached to fork arms of a tractor, the tines being substantially horizontal and being pressed into loose matter to be lifted, such as silage, and then being raised to transport the loose matter supported on the tines. Further hooked tines are frequently provided mounted above the horizontal tines and to be pivoted in an arc thereby to pull the loose matter onto the horizontal tines and to retain it from falling off the front of the horizontal tines as it is being transported, which usually involves reversing and forward movements of the tractor. Difficulties can occur however with loose but dense and wet material, again such a silage, in that when it is required to unload the loose matter from the horizontal tines, the loose matter sticks thereto and cannot easily be disengaged from the horizontal tines or can be disengaged only with difficulty, which difficulty may involve shaking of the fork arms and undesired spreading of the loose matter over a large area. According to the invention tined apparatus comprises a member mounting generally horizontal tines, a frame mounting further tines, the frame being pivotally mounted on said member and coupled to said member by actuating means whereby the frame can be pivoted on said member to cause the further tines to effect a raking action to draw matter to be lifted onto the horizontal tines, the frame including pusher means which upon movement of the frame to raise the further tines, applies a force to push material supported on the horizontal tines off the front ends of the horizontal tines. Preferably the actuating means are a pair of hydraulic cylinders acting on the frame at positions spaced from the pivot thereof. The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of tined apparatus according to the invention in a loading position; Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Fig. 1 moved into a closed position for transport of material; Figure 3 shows the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 in an eject position and, Figure 4 is an end view corresponding to Figs. 1 to 3 and showing in full lines the position corresponding to Fig. 1, in dotted lines the position corresponding to Fig. 2 and in chain dotted lines the position corresponding to Fig. 3. Referring to the drawings, a mounting framework 1 comprises an upright back plate 2 with side members 3 and 4, a bottom member 5, a top member 6 and forwardly projecting arms 7 and 8. A plurality, seven as shown, of horizontal tines 9 are mounted on the bottom member 5. A further frame 10 comprises a front member 11, side members 12 and 13 and further, curved tines 14, the side members 1 2 and 1 3 being pivotally mounted by pivot pins 1 5 and 1 6 on the arms 7 and 8 respectively.A pin 1 7 is mounted in each arm of the side members 12, 1 3 and is coupled to the rod 18 of a respective hydraulic cylinder 1 9. Also rigidly mounted on the frame 10 is a sub-frame 20 comprising four generally Z-shaped levers 21 each secured, preferably by welding at one end to the front bar 11 of the frame 10, secured at their other ends to a common transverse bar 22 and connected by intermediate transverse bars 23 and 24. In operation the frame 1 is mounted on a tractor, particularly on fork arms thereof by coupling means not shown but provided at the rear of the back plate 2. To pick-up a load a loose material to be carried on the tines 9 the tractor is driven forwardly with the further tines 14 in the raised position of Fig. 1, that is to say with the rods 18 partially retracted into the cylinders 1 9 so that the further tines 14 are in a raised position. In this position the middle portions of the Z-shaped levers 21 are in a horizontal orientation above the tines 9. After the tines 9 have been fully engaged in the material to be lifted the rods 18 are moved fully out of the cylinders 1 9 to the position of Fig. 2 in which the further tines 14 are so located as to prevent the loose material falling off the front edges of the tines 9. In fact the lowering movement of the further frame 10 as it moves from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2 will draw more material onto the tines 9 and compact the material already thereon. When the tractor has been moved to a position at which the material carried on the tines 9 is to be unloaded, the rods 18 are drawn fully into the cylinders 1 9 to pivot the further tines 14 to the raised position of Fig. 3 and thereby cause the sub-frame 20 of the frame 10 to pivot to the position of Fig. 3 in which the middle portions of the levers 21 are in a position in which they extend vertically downwards, movement of the sub-frame 20 into such a position ejecting the material which was carried on the tines 9 off the front edge thereof. CLAIMS

1. Tined apparatus comprising a member mounting generally horizontal tines, a frame mounting further tines, the frame being pivotally mounted on said member and coupled to said member by actuating means whereby the frame can be pivoted on said member to cause the further tines to effect a raking action to draw matter in a direction such that it will be drawn onto the horizontal tines, the frame including pusher means which upon movement of the frame to raise the further tines, applies a force to push material supported on the horizontal tines off the front ends of the horizontal tines.

2. Tined apparatus according to claim 1, in which the actuating means are a pair of hydraulic cylinders acting on the frame at positions spaced from the pivot thereof.

3. Tined apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the frame is pivoted on said member by pivot mountings on side arms of said member.

4. Tined apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the pusher means comprise a plurality of generally Z-shaped levers coupled at one end to a cross member of the frame and coupled together by transverse bars.

5. Tined apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.