GB2297944A

GB2297944A - Bale accumulator

Info

Publication number: GB2297944A
Application number: GB9503182A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Richard Leech
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-02-18
Filing date: 1995-02-18
Publication date: 1996-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-18
Also published as: GB9503182D0; GB2297944B

Abstract

A bale accumulator comprises a central fixed bale receiving surface 6 and, at each side thereof, a secondary receiving surface which can be selectively rotated about a transverse horizontal axis in order to discharge a bale resting thereon rearwardly on to the ground, and means 14 associated with the central receiving surface 6 for pushing a bale received on said surface (6 sideways on to a selected one of the secondary receiving surfaces, wherein each of the secondary surfaces is formed with an outer longitudinally-extending portion 7b thereof pivotally attached to an inner portion 7a in such a manner that the outer portion 7b may be pivoted from an operative position wherein the outer portion 7b lies in the same plane as the inner portion 7a, inwardly and upwardly to a transport position, wherein the outer portion 7b extends generally vertically, whereby the overall width of the accumulator is reduced.

Description

BALE ACCUMULATOR Field of the Invention This invention relates to a bale accumulator, in the form of a trailer vehicle to be towed behind a straw baler and receiving bales therefrom in order to deposit the bales on to the field in palm, or even threes, or singly at desired locations.

Background to the Invention Agricultural baling machines, for example for baling the straw deposited by harvesting machines, typically discharge bales rearwardly on to the ground as they are formed. For convenience of subsequent collection of the bales for stacking or transportation, it is desirable to accumulate the bales into pairs, or at least to ensure that the bales are placed at suitable locations around the field, for example adjacent to the ends of the field, rather than simply distributed randomly. This is typically achieved by the use of accumulators, which are trailer vehicles towed behind the baler and receiving the bales therefrom, tipping the bales on to the field under the control of the baler operator, for example in pairs.The accumulator typically receives the bales and on to a central surface and then pushes the bales sideways, first to one side and then to the other, to result in two or three bales being carried by the accumulator side-by-side. These are then tipped off by tipping up the whole of the accumulating surface, or in some machines by selectively tipping one or both side surfaces, the central portion of the receiving surface, on to which the bales are deposited by the baler, being fixed.

While the latter type of machine offers the greatest flexibility of operation, in the UK and Europe it has been limited to smaller bales because the width required to accommodate three large bales side-by-side is too great for the machines to be transported over public roads to and from the fields where it is to be used.

The trend is now for larger balers producing larger bales, since machine handling of bales is now more common. In the USA, where the need to use public roads for transport is less, bale accumulators can be designed for use with larger sized bales.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a bale accumulator comprising a central fixed bale receiving surface and, at each side thereof, a secondary receiving surface which can be selectively rotated about a transverse horizontal axis in order to dis- charge a bale resting thereon rearwardly on to the ground, and means associated with the central receiving surface for pushing a bale received on said surface sideways on to a selected one of the secondary receiving surfaces, wherein each of the secondary surfaces is formed with an outer longitudinally-extending portion thereof pivotally attached to an inner portion in such a manner that the outer portion may be pivoted from an operative position wherein the outer portion lies in the same plane as the inner portion, inwardly and upwardly to a transport position, wherein the outer portion extends generally vertically, whereby the overall width of the accumulator is reduced.

The bale accumulator is preferably a trailer vehicle, and is suitably provided with two pairs of castor-mounted wheels. The secondary receiving surfaces are preferably pivoted at a mid-point along their length, so that the rearmost part tips downwardly towards the ground to discharge the bale thereon, while the frontmost part is elevated. A hydraulic ram is suitably mounted beneath each secondary surface to pivot the surface.

A pushing bar is preferably slidably mounted on the fixed receiving surface, extending longitudinally thereof relative to the direction of travel. A pair of opposed multi-stage hydraulic rams are suitably mounted beneath the surface, acting on a sliding carriage to which the pushing bar is attached through slots in the surface. A detector is preferably provided to give a signal to the operator of the presence of a bale on the surface. Detectors associated with each of the secondary surfaces can also indicate when a bale has been slid on to it by the pushing bar, so that the operator knows when it is appropriate and safe to discharge the bale therefrom. Electronic controls may be provided to co-ordinate the various movements so that, for example, it is impossible to push a bale towards a secondary surface which already carries a bale.

The accumulator of the invention may be made large enough to handle the largest bales while still being transportable over public roads to and from the fields where the accumulator is to be used.

Brief Description of the Drawing In the drawing, which is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a front end elevation; and Figure 2 is a left-hand side elevation.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment The drawings illustrate the accumulator in its transport configuration, for the sake of convenience. The accumulator comprises a main frame 1, formed of box-section steel and mounting a pair of legs 2 each carrying via a castored mount 3 a pair of wheels 4. A pivoted towing bar 5 is mounted at the front end and per- mits two-point connection to the baler.A central fixed bale-receiving surface 6 is mounted on the main frame 1, and alongside it are mounted two tipping surfaces 7, each having an inner portion 7a and an outer portion 7b pivotally connected thereto so as to be pivotable between a working position, in which the inner and outer portions 7a and 7b lie in the same plane so as to form between them a single secondary bale-receiving surface, and a transport position as illustrated in the drawing, in which the outer portions 7b extend generally vertically from the inner portions 7a.

The pivoting of the outer portions 7b is achieved by means of extended side frame members 8 connected through pivots 9 to the front and rear of the respective inner portions 7a. In the transport position, the extended side frame members 8 come into contact with stop members 10 extending from the main frame 1 when they have passed just over the top dead centre position, so that they are held in position without the need for locking devices. The outer portions 7b are readily manually pivoted outwardly and downwardly to their operative positions without the need for any power assistance. However, should it be desired to provide power lifting and lowering of the outer portions 7b, this could readily be achieved by means of hydraulic rams or the like extending between the outer and inner por- tions, for example.

Selective pivoting or tipping of the secondary surfaces 7 is achieved by means of a hydraulic ram 11 mounted beneath each, between an extension 12 to the main frame 1 and the frame of the surface 7 (shown only in Figure 2 for the sake of clarity).

A pivoted flap 13 is set into a recess in the front of the central fixed surface 6. When a bale passes over the flap in its passage from the baler, it depresses the flap actuating a switch or other detector which sends a signal to indicate the pres ence of a bale on the fixed surface. A pusher bar 14 is slidably mounted on the fixed surface 6 and is connected through two slots (not shown) to a carriage beneath the surface movable by an opposed pair of multi-stage hydraulic rams to the left or right of the surface 6 to push a bale on the surface on to one of the secondary surfaces 7. Each of the secondary surfaces has a pivoted flap 15 set into a recess therein so that a signal can be sent when a bale is slid from the fixed surface 6 to the respective secondary surface 7 to indicate its presence thereon. The rams 11 can then be selectively operated to tip the bales on the secondary surfaces 7 rear- wardly and down on to the ground for subsequent collection. It will be seen that the bales may thus be deposited side-by-side in pairs, or singly, but close together, for example, to facilitate their collection.

It will be appreciated that the control of the movement of the bales on the accumulator may readily be supervised by a computer, to ensure that the various movements occur in their correct sequence, with the minimum of intervention by the operator, leaving him or her free to decide on the precise depositing points for the bales.

Claims

1) A bale accumulator comprising a central fixed bale receiving surface and, at each side thereof, a secondary receiving surface which can be selectively rotated about a transverse horizontal axis in order to discharge a bale resting thereon rearwardly on to the ground, and means associated with the central receiving surface for pushing a bale received on said surface sideways on to a selected one of the secondary receiving surfaces, wherein each of the secondary surfaces is formed with an outer longitudinally-extending portion thereof pivotally attached to an inner portion in such a manner that the outer portion may be pivoted from an operative position wherein the outer portion lies in the same plane as the inner portion, inwardly and upwardly to a transport position, wherein the outer portion extends generally vertically, whereby the overall width of the accumulator is reduced.

2) A bale accumulator according to claim 1, wherein the bale accumulator is a trailer vehicle.

3) A bale accumulator according to claim 1 or 2, provided with two pairs of castor-mounted wheels.

4) A bale accumulator according to any preceding claim, wherein the secondary receiving surfaces are pivoted at a mid-point along their length, so that the rearmost part tips downwardly towards the ground to discharge the bale thereon, while the frontmost part is elevated.

5) A bale accumulator according to any preceding claim, wherein a hydraulic ram is mounted beneath each secondary surface to pivot the said surface.

6) A bale accumulator according to any preceding claim, wherein a pushing bar is slidably mounted on the fixed receiving surface, extending longitudinally thereof relative to the direction of travel.

7) A bale accumulator according to claim 6, wherein a pair of opposed multi-stage hydraulic rams are mounted beneath the fixed receiving surface, acting on a sliding carriage to which the pushing bar is attached through slots in the surface.

8) A bale accumulator according to any preceding claim, wherein a detector is provided to give a signal to the operator of the presence of a bale on the fixed receiving surface.

9) A bale accumulator according to any preceding claims, wherein detectors associated with each of the secondary surfaces indicate when a bale has been slid on to it by the pushing bar, so that the operator knows when it is appropriate and safe to discharge the bale therefrom.

10) A bale accumulator according to any preceding claim, wherein electronic controls are provided to co-ordinate the various movements so that, it is impossible to push a bale towards a secondary surface which already carries a bale and/or to push a bale towards a secondary surface when a bale is being discharged therefrom.

11) A bale accumulator substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.