GB2146306A - Bale carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A carrier for round bales comprises a first frame (10) which can be hitched to the three-point linkage of a tractor. First tines (20) project rearwardly from the first frame (10) and a second frame (25) is articulated (at 30) to the first frame (10) and can be moved by a hydraulic ram (31) from a lowered position where second tines (40) projecting from the second frame (25) can impale round bales to an elevated position above the first frame (10) so as to expose the first tines (20) for impaling further round bales. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bale carrier This invention relates to bale carriers, and more particularly to carriers for large cylindrival bales such as cylindrical bales of diameter 1400 mm and width 1220 mm.

Such bales are produced by rotary balers which pick up windrowed material off the ground, form a cylindrical bale in a baling chamber, and discharge the bale through a tailgate after the forming cycle has been completed.

The bales produced by rotary balers are very large and four or five of them may weigh up to about two tons. They have become known in the industry as round bales to distinguish same over the earlier standard or conventional bales.

The mechanical handling and transporting of round bales has centred around purposebuilt trailers and tractors with three-point linkages. Such trailers are equipped with mechanisms of varying degrees of complexity.

The object of the present invention is to provide a bale carrier which dispenses with the need for a purpose-built trailer and en ables four round bales to be carried directly by a tractor at the rear of the latter through the three-point linkage.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a carrier for round bales, comprising a first frame adapted at one side to be hitched to the three-point linkage of a tractor and having first tines projecting from the other side of the first frame so as to project rearwardly of the tractor when the first frame is hitched to the three-point linkage, a second frame articulated on one side thereof to the first frame and having second tines projecting from the other side of the second frame, the second frame being acurrately movable relative to the first frame between a lowered position spaced from the first frame in the same direction as the first tines project therefrom so that the second tines project further rearwardly of the tractor and behind the first tines when the first frame is hitched to the three-point linkage for impaling round bales, and an elevated position above the first frame so that the second tines project upwardly from the second frame and expose the first tines for impaling further round bales, and powered means for accurately moving the second frame relative to the first frame.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a carrier in accordance with the invention for handling and transporting four round bales of diameter 1400 mm, and in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the carrier linked to the three-point linkage at the rear of a tractor and in the attitude to pick up two of the four round bales; Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the carrier in the attitude for transporting four round bales which have been picked up and elevated; and Figure 4 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow IV in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the carrier comprises a first and upright rectangular frame 10 of length 1 900 mm and height 900 mm adapted at 11, 1 2 and 1 3 for symmetrical hitching to the three-point linkage 14, 1 5 and 1 6 of a tractor whereof the rear wheels are indicated at 1 7 and 1 8.

Projecting from the bottom of the frame 10 and rearwardly of the tractor are forged steel tines 20 of the buck-rake type, one at each end of the frame and another spaced inwardly from each end tine and symmetrically spaced one to each side of the vertical plane bisecting the frame between the end tines.

A second rectangular frame 25 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the lower of its two extreme attitudes and in Figs. 3 and 4 in the elevated of its two extreme attitudes. The frame 25 is of length 1 950 mm and of height 450 mm, i.e. is slightly longer than but only half the height of the frame 10. In the lowered position the bottom of the frame 25 is on a level with the bottom of the frame 10. The frame 25 is then also upright and is spaced from the frame 10 in a direction rearwardly of the tractor, the distance between the two frames being 890 mm.The second frame 25 is connected with the first frame 10 and supported from the latter firstly by two parallel bars 26 and 27 symmetrically spaced one to each side of the aforesaid vertical plane, the bars being secured fast with the outer or second frame 25 at the bottom of the latter in its lowered attitude (Figs. 1 and 2), but being articulated to the first frame 10 through coaxial journal bearings 28 and 29 whereof the shaft 30 is horizontal and located midway of the height of the first frame, and secondly by a single-acting hydraulic ram 31 whereof the axis is in the aforesaid vertical plane, the ram 31 being articulated at one end at 32 to the bottom of the first frame 10 and at its other end at 33 to a horizontal tie rod 34 normal to and connecting the two bars 26 and 27, the tie rod 34 being parallel to the two frames 10 and 25 and the axis thereof being spaced 690 mm from the frame 10 and 200 mm from the frame 25.

The frame 25 has projecting therefrom (rearwardly of the tractor in the lowered attitude of the frame 25) six forged steel tines 40 of the buck-rake type. Four of the tines 40 are positioned similarly to the tines 20 fast with the frame 10, the other two being positioned at the top of the frame 25 one midway between the two to each side of the vertical plane bisecting the frame 25 between the end tines 40.

When the carrier is mounted on the threepoint linkage of the tractor and is to be loaded, the two frames 10 and 25 are in the attitudes shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The tractor is reversed so that the tines 40 on the outer frame 25 enter two bales 45 through flat ends of the latter, assuming the two bales are positioned axially parallel and closely spaced line abreast. If the two bales are not so positioned, one bale can be impaled by the tines 40 to one side of the aforesaid vertical plane and then raised from the ground using the tractor three-point hydraulic lift, following which the tractor can be manoeuvred into appropriate position and reversed to impale the second bale by the tines 40 to the other side of the aforesaid vertical plane.

The outer frame 25 is then elevated to the position shown in Fig. 3 using the hydraulic ram 31, the frame 25 then tracing a quadrant of a circle whereby the frame 25 is horizontal and spaced directly above the frame 10 with the axes of the bales 45 impaled by the tines 40 vertical or substantially vertical so as to expose tines 20. Two further bales 46 are then impaled in the same manner by the tines 20 of the inner frame 10 and are raised from the ground using the tractor three-point linkage hydraulic lift. The tractor can now transport the bales.

Claims (3)

1. A carrier for round bales, comprising a first frame adapted at one side to be hitched to the three-point linkage of a tractor and having first tines projecting from the other side of the first frame so as to project rearwardly of the tractor when the first frame is hitched to the three-point linkage, a second frame articulated on one side thereof to the first frame and having second tines projecting from the other side of the second frame, the second frame being accurately movable relative to the first frame between a lowered position spaced from the first frame in the same direction as the first tines project therefrom so that the second tines project further rearwardly of the tractor and behind the first tines when the first frame is hitched to the three-point linkage for impaling round bales, and an elevated position above the first frame so that the second tines project upwardly from the second frame and expose the first tines for impaling further round bales, and powered means for arcuately moving the second frame relative to the first frame.

2. A carrier for round bales, according to claim 1, wherein the powered means is a hydraulic ram.

3. A carrier for round bales, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.