GB2194212A

GB2194212A - A device for transporting loads

Info

Publication number: GB2194212A
Application number: GB08619869A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip William Harold Livesey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-08-15
Filing date: 1986-08-15
Publication date: 1988-03-02
Also published as: GB8619869D0

Abstract

A device for transporting, for example, round silage bales consists of a pair of spaced parallel supporting arms (17) extending generally horizontally to support the bale in the manner of a forklift truck. The arms are attached to a horizontal beam (16) pivotally supported on a shaft (14) offset from its mid- point, and a locking mechanism (20) with actuating means is releasable to enable free pivotal movement of the beam (16) about the axis of shaft (14) such that one supporting arm (17) may drop to a lower level than the other, thus permitting the bale to be discharged transversely. After discharge, the beam (16) and movable arm (17) return to their original positions under the action of a spring (19). The locking mechanism is released manually to discharge bales and the whole mechanism is reversible to provide for the preference of left or right-hand discharge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for transporting loads THIS INVENTION concerns a device for transporting loads in a manner similar to that afforded by a forklift truck which includes a pair of forwardly projecting arms which can be raised and lowered to pick up and discharge a load respectively.

The invention has particular application in the transportation of round silage bales which are wrapped and effectively sealed usually in polyethylene sheeting to prevent the silage from deteriorating. It is important to ensure that the wrapping is not punctured during transportation.

A device is known for this purpose which essentially comprises a pair of forwardly projecting arms attached to a generally horizontal transverse beam adapted to be mounted on a tractor or similar transporter having hydraulic power take-off means, and the beam is supported pivotally with an hydraulic cylinder to enable one of the supporting arms to be lowered relative to the other to discharge a bale in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the arms.

Such a device can only be used effectively when used in conjunction with a vehicle carrying hydraulic drive means, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system for enabling a load to be discharged without an hydraulic drive.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for transporting loads comprising a pair of spaced parallel supporting arms mounted and on and projecting forwardly from a generally horizontal transportable beam and including means to retain the arms at a fixed disposition relative to each other and to the beam during transportation of a load, and actuating means for permitting at least one of said arms to move relative to said fixed disposition under the effect of the weight of the load carried thereon, when required, to cause the load to be discharged therefrom in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said arms.

Preferably, said arms are adjustably mounted on said beam thus to enable their distance apart to be set according to the size of the load to be transported.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: Fig. 1 is plan view of a device made in accordance with the invention for attachment to a tractor or like vehicle; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a section taken along line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a detailed view of a locking mechanism incorporated within the device; According to one embodiment, a device for transporting loads comprises a first beam 10 which is adapted to be mounted by means of adjustable brackets 11 to, for example, a standard three-point linkage of a tractor a part of which is illustrated at 12. One of a pair of bearing members 13 attached by welding to beam 10 carries a relatively rotatable shaft 14 which is removably retained by a linchpin 15 or the like.Rigidly attached to shaft 14 is a second beam 16 which as can be seen from Fig. 1 is attached to the shaft 14 at a position offset from the mid-point of the beam 16.

A pair of supporting arms 17 are adjustably mounted by means of brackets 18 on beam 16 so that their positions along the latter can be adjusted as will be described, according to the dimensions of a load to be transported. A coil spring 19 connected between beam 16 and a fixed point (not shown) relative to beam 10, supports beam 16 in a horizontal position, i.e. substantially parallel to beam 10. This is further ensured by a detachable locking mechanism consisting of an arm 20 fixed to the end of beam 16 remote from shaft 14.

The arm 20 is prevented from rising beyond a position in which beams 10 and 16 are parallel, by means of a stop 21 on the detachable mechanism. In this position, a spring-loaded pin 22 housed within arm 10 locates within a recess 23 in arm 20. The end face of arm 20 is chamfered as can be seen in Fig. 4 to provide a latching action as arm20 rises towards stop 21. A lever 24 may be operated by hand or alternatively by a cable mechanism from the driver's position, to withdraw pin 22 and release arm 20 when required.

In use, assuming the device is to be used for transporting round silage bales, the spacing of arms 17 and brackets 18 along beam 16 is adjusted to be somewhat greater than the partially flattened bottom part of a bale resting upon the ground, but narrower than the maximum diameter of the bale, such that the latter can be picked up by the arms 17 and transported thereon as illustrated by arcuate line 25. This action takes place with beam 16 held parallel to beam 10 by the locking mechanism. When it is required to release the bale, usually onto a number of already stacked bales, the device is manoeuvred such that the bale is positioned slightly above the stack whereupon pin 22 is retracted to release arm 20 thus causing beam 16 to pivot on shaft 14 clockwise as viewed in Fig 2 owing to the weight of the load carried on arms 17.This action permits the bale to roll towards the lower arm and to be discharged in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the arms, i.e. transversely. Thereafter, the device can be withdrawn whereupon beam 16 will return under the action of spring 19 to its horizontal position with arm 20 located against stop 21, and pin 22 will return into recess 23 to enable the device to pick up the next bale.

Thus it can be seen that no power source is required to discharge bales in this way the only requirement being some means for retracting pin 22 when required, and the device can therefore be used on a vehicle with no power take-off means.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, by releasing pin 15 and spring 19, shaft 14 can be withdrawn, beam 16 can be overturned and the shaft 14 can be inserted into the other bearing member 13. After reconnecting spring 19 (with some adjustment if necessary) and inverting brackets 18 on beam 16 the device can then be operated to discharge bales in the opposite direction, i.e. to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. The locking mechanism can be repositioned on the left-hand end of beam 10 for this purpose. This reversal procedure is made possible to allow for the user's preference for left or right-hand discharge.

The above description relates to one method of releasing one of the supporting arms to allow it to move under the weight of a load being carried thus to discharge the load transversely. There are many alternative methods in which a beam carrying the arms 17 may be pivotally supported of fset from the centre of gravity. For example, the beam 16 may be pivotally attached directly to an upstanding vehicle-mounted post, by means of an inclined member pivotally mounted on a shaft extending forwardly from the post, the member extending downwardly and attached to the beam at a position offset from its midpoint.

Alternatively, one of the arms 17 may be fixed, whilst the other is permitted to slide or pivot to a position in which it no longer supports the load, there being spring-loaded or manual retrieval means for its return once the load is discharged.

Claims

1. A device for transporting loads comprising a pair of spaced parallel supporting arms mounted on and projecting forwardly from a generally horizontal transportable beam and including means to retain the arms at a fixed disposition relative to each other and to the beam during transportation of a load, and actuating means for permitting at least one of said arms to move relative to said fixed disposition under the effect of the weight of the load carried thereon when required to cause the load to be discharged therefrom in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said arms.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said transportable beam is supported for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said supporting arms, said actuating means removably maintaining said beam in a position in which a load may be supported and transported on said supporting arms, such that when said actuating means is released said beam is caused to pivot about said axis under the weight of the load which causes one of said supporting arms to drop relative to the other and thus discharge the load transversely.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein said transportable beam is pivotally attached to a further beam, selectively in one of two positions thereon offset from the mid-point of said further beam, said first transportable beam being interchangeable to enable a load to be discharged selectively in one or other transverse direction.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the distance apart of said supporting arms on said transportable beam is adjustable to enable different sized loads to be supported thereon.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said actuating means comprises a member movable with said movable arm and engaging a fixed stop in a position wherein said supporting arms are in said fixed disposition, and a spring-loaded catch operable to cause said at least one arm to drop under the weight of the load carried thereon.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein said actuating means further comprises means on said member to provide a latching action as the supporting arm is returned to said fixed disposition whereby the latter is assumed automatically after discharge of a load.

7. A device according to Claim 6, wherein said latching action is provided by a springloaded pin adapted to locate within a recess in said member.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said supporting arms are retained in said fixed disposition by means of a spring against which said transportable beam may move when the actuating means releases same.

9. A device according to Claim 3, wherein said transportable beam is mounted on a shaft fixed with respect thereto and pivotally located selectively in one of a pair of bearing members each offset from the mid-point of said further beam.

10. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes a movable iever whose movement is provided by a cable mechanism accessible from the driver's position.

11. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said transportable beam is pivotally attached directly to an upstanding vehicle-mounted post, by means of an inclined member pivotally mounted on a shaft extending forwardly from the post, the member extending obliquely downwardly and attached to the beam at a position offset from its mid-point.

12. A device according to Claim 1, wherein of said spaced parallel supporting arms, one is fixed the other being slidable relative to the one to a position in which it no longer supports a load, there being spring-loaded or manual retrieval means for its return once a load is discharged.

13. A device according to Claim 1, wherein of said spaced parallel supporting arms, one is fixed whilst the other is permitted to pivot to a position in which it no longer supports a load, there being spring-loaded or manual retrieval means for its return once the load is discharged.

14. A device for transporting loads, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.