GB2446133A - Apparatus for towing a round bale behind a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile apparatus for the transportation of single 'round' bales. The apparatus comprises two mirror image L shaped arms 2 and a T shaped yoke 1, each arm is fitted with an inwardly facing, freely rotating spiked wheel 4, the arms slide telescopically into either end of the T bar of the yoke 1, the spiked wheels are employed to grip either end of a suitably positioned 'round' bale B, the wheels are brought into this position by applying traction individually to each arm using a ratchet or toggle lever or similar tensioning mechanism 5 mounted on the yoke 1, the frame is secured in position using securing pins or similar, the adjustable joint J on the shaft of the yoke is set at 'tow' or 'trailer' depending on mode of employ, the shaft of the yoke ends in a ball hitch 3 or other device which permits it to be securely attached to a suitable towing vehicle 9.

Description

Patent Specification.

Single bale transporter.

This invention relates to an improved device for the transportation of single round' bales of hay, straw and other similar material.

Hay, straw, and other similar material is baled for ease of storage and transportation.

These bales are commonly in the form of small rectangular bales or big round' bales.

Round' bales are actually cylindrical, measuring approximately l200mms in diameter by l200mms in length and comprise axially wound vegetative material used for animal feed or bedding. There is some variation but generally it takes 12 to 14 small bales to make one round' bale. The cost of a round' bale of hay is currently about two thirds the cost of 14 small bales and so it can be readily appreciated that by using round' bales instead of small rectangular bales, considerable cost savings can be made. The disadvantage of using round' bales is that they weigh upwards of 200kgs and moving them has hitherto required the use of specialist agricultural vehicles such as tractors or complex farm machinery employing hydraulic lifting gear. The invention to which this specification refers will facilitate the transportation of single round' bales without the need to purchase or employ the items mentioned above, thus permitting the smaller farmer to benefit from the cost savings inherent in a big bale system.

There are other devices which have been designed to move single round' bales.

For example one device grips the round' bale with spiked, hydraulically operated arms and then lifts it onto the back of a pick-up truck for transportation. This device has the disadvantage of requiring a specially modified pick-up truck fitted with hydraulics.

Another device consists of an axle which is pushed or driven through the centre of the round' bale and is then fastened to a frame which is in turn attached to a towing vehicle. This device has the disadvantage of requiring the operator to push or drive a long axle through the bale horizontally with no guiding mechanism. Also the force required to drive the axle through the bale could be considerable depending on the density of the bale. Also the movement of the bale on the axle can hollow out the centre of the bale making it roll erratically. Also when the bale has been towed to it's destination the frame cannot be towed back but must be dismantled and stowed in the towing vehicle if space permits.

These disadvantages are overcome by the present invention which provides a mobile apparatus for the transportation of single round' bales, the apparatus comprising a L11 shaped metal frame, the frame consisting of two mirror imageL J shaped arms and a T shaped yoke wherein the arms slide telescopically into either end of the T bar of the yoke, the arms being fitted with an inwardly facing, freely rotating spiked wheel, the spiked wheels being employed to grip either end of a suitably positioned round' bale which in this manner is made to function as a wheel or roller, the arms being brought into this position using a ratchet or toggle lever or similar mechanism mounted on the yoke, the yoke being attached to a suitable towing vehicle.

In one form the invention comprises a shaped metal frame consisting of two mirror imageL Jshaped arms and aTshaped yoke wherein the arms slide telescopically into either end of the T bar of the yoke. The shaft of the yoke has an adjustable, lockable joint midway along it's length and ends in a ball hitch. Each telescopic arm is fitted with a stub axle on which is mounted an inwardly facing, freely rotating wheel, which has 5 inwardly pointing spikes, four of which are distributed on the circumference of the wheel at 0,90, 180 and 270 degrees and one larger spike in the centre. The purpose of the circumferential spikes is to pierce the end of the bale thereby ensuring that it is held securely as it is towed. The purpose of the central spike is to enable the exact positioning of the wheel in the centre of the circle that forms the end of the bale, thus ensuring that when the bale is towed it rolls evenly. With the spiked wheels positioned at either end of the bale, a tensioning device, such as a ratchet or toggle lever or similar mechanism, which is mounted on the yoke, pulls each telescopic arm in turn towards the midline. This action causes the telescopic arm to push the attached spiked wheel into the end of the round' bale. The telescopic arm is then locked in place by dropping a steel pin or similar device through pre-drilled corresponding holes in the upper and lower surfaces of the arm and the yoke. The process is then repeated on the other side. With the bale thus clamped' the jointed shaft of the yoke is set in the tow' position and the device, including the bale, is attached to a suitable towing vehicle and towed to it's required destination. By setting the jointed shaft in the tow' position the opposing forces of pull and resistance are resolved horizontally thus avoiding the tendency for the back of the towing vehicle to lift off the ground.

In another form of the invention, the jointed shaft of the yoke is set in the trailer' position. In this form the spiked wheels become trailer wheels thus permitting the invention to be towed back to the farm empty.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows the top elevation according to the invention with no bale.

Figure 2 shows the same elevation with the bale clamped.

Figure 3 shows the front elevation according to the invention immediately before the bale has been clamped.

Figure 4 shows the same elevation with the bale clamped.

Figure 5 shows the side elevation according to the invention with the bale clamped to the device which is ready to be towed.

Figure 6 shows the side elevation according to the invention with no bale.

Figure 7 shows the spiked wheel according to the invention.

En figure (1), aTshaped yoke 1 accommodates twoL Jshaped, mirror image arms 2.

The arms 2 move in and out of the T bar of the yoke 1 telescopically but they do not rotate. The shaft of the yokel is jointed at J and ends in a ball hitch 3. Each arm 2 is fitted with a stub axle 14 on which is mounted an inwardly facing, freely rotating, spiked wheel 4. A tensioning device 5, which may be a ratchet or a toggle lever or a similar mechanism, is located on top of the yoke 1. In this figure the frame is locked in the open position by securing pins 7 which have been dropped into corresponding holes 6 which have been pre-drilled through the yoke I and the telescopic arms 2. The adjustable joint J is fixed in the trailer' position using a securing pin or a screw tightening mechanism.

In figure (2) the telescopic arms 2 have been pulled towards tjie'middle of the yoke 1 using the tensioning deviceS which action has caused the attached spiked wheels 4 to be pushed into either end of the round' bale B. Securing pins 7 have been dropped into pre-drilled corresponding holes 6 in the yoke 1 and the aims 2, holding the frame in the closed position. The adjustable joint J is fixed in the tow' position using a securing pin or a screw tightening mechanism.

In figure (3) each of the spiked wheels 4 have been manually pushed into the bale B ready for tensioning. The tensioning deviceS has been fastened to a lug 8 on the upper surface of the telescopic arm 2. By applying force to the tensioning lever 5 the ann 2 will be pulled into the corresponding horizontal member of the yoke 1. This action in turn causes the attached spiked wheel 4 to be pushed into the end of the round' bale.

The arm will then be locked in the closed position by dropping a securing pin 7 into the corresponding pre-drilled hole 6. The process is repeated for the other arm to produce figure (4).

In figure (4) the bale B is securely clamped by the frame which is locked in the closed position by securing pins 7 as described above. The lever of the tensioning deviceS is folded down flat along the yoke 1.

In figure (5) the spiked wheels 4 are clamped in the middle of the outer end of the bale B. The adjustable joint 1 on the shall of the yokel is fixed in the tow' position using a securing pin or a tightening screw mechanism. The tow' position ensures that the opposing forces of pull and resistance are resolved horizontally thus avoiding the tendency for the back of the towing vehicle to lift off the ground. The ball hitch 3 is attached to the towing vehicle 9 and the bale is now ready for towing.

In figure (6) the bale has been released from the device, the adjustable joint J on the shall of the yoke 1 is fixed in the trailer' position using a securing pin or a tightening screw mechanism and the ball hitch 3 attached to the towing vehicle 9 The device can now be towed away.

In figure (7) the spiked wheel 4, which is mounted on a stub axle 14, can be seen and comprises a pneumatic tyre 12 enclosing a hub 13. Set in the hub is a central spike or blade 10, with four spikes or blades 11 mounted circumferentially at intervals on the hub at 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees and 270 degrees. The pneumatic tyre 12 allows the spiked wheels to function as trailer wheels also. c

Claims (9)

Claims.

1) A mobile apparatus for the transportation of single round' bales, the apparatus comprising a'1 shaped metal frame, the frame consisting of two mirror image L.J shaped arms and a T shaped yoke wherein the arms slide telescopically into either end of the T bar of the yoke, the arms being fitted with an inwardly facing, freely rotating spiked wheel, the spiked wheels being employed to grip either end of a suitably positioned round' bale which in this manner is made to function as a wheel or roller, the arms being brought into this position using a ratchet or toggle lever or similar mechanism mounted on the yoke, the yoke being attached to a suitable towing vehicle.

2) An apparatus as in claim 1 whereby two mirror imageL Ishaped arms slide telescopically in and out of either end the T bar of the yoke but do not rotate.

3) An apparatus as in claims 1 to 2 whereby each arm is fitted with a stub axle on which is mounted an inwardly facing, freely rotating, spiked wheel.

4) An apparatus as in claims I to 3 whereby the spiked wheel comprises an outer tyre enclosing an inner hub, the hub having normally, though not necessarily, five spikes in the following positions, four mounted circumferentially at 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees and 270 degrees and a larger spike mounted in the centre.

5) An apparatus as in claims I to 4 whereby a tensioning device such as a ratchet or a toggle lever or similar mechanism is mounted on the yoke and is employed to pull the arms and their associated spiked wheels into the midline.

6) An apparatus as in claims 1 to 5 whereby the frame can be locked in either the closed position for bale towing or the open position for towing without a bale, by the insertion of securing pins or similar, into corresponding holes which have been pre-drilled through the yoke and the telescopic arms.

7) An apparatus as in claims 1 to 6 whereby the yoke has an adjustable joint approximately, although not necessarily, halfway along the shaft and which can be locked either in either the tow' position or the trailer' position.

8) An apparatus as in claims I to 7 above whereby the shaft of the yoke ends in a ball hitch or other device which permits it to be securely attached to a suitable towing vehicle.

9) An apparatus as in claims I to 8 above whereby the apparatus can be towed with a bale, which functions as a wheel or roller, the adjustable joint being set in the tow' position, or on its own, the adjustable joint being set in the trailer' position, the spiked wheels now doubling as trailer wheels.