IES86078B2 - Under and over round bale carrier/stacker - Google Patents

Abstract

A carrier for transporting two 4’ x 4’ round bales, one over the other, thereby reducing load width, is described. The carrier, which can stack two bales high, can be fitted on to an existing mast or bale stacker. The key to the invention is the folding upwards of the bottom bale carrier; when the U frame carrier is folded up it allows the top carrier to operate as if it was not there. The bottom bale carrier can rotate upwards out of the way to allow the top bale to be stacked without damaging the bale that it is being stacked upon. The invention means less handling and transferring of bales from carriers to stackers. <Figure 1>

Description

Field of Invention The Invention is fitted on to a tractor three point linkage and is used for transporting and stacking round bales, such bales are produced by rotary balers from hay, straw, silage or haylage and have become known as round bales, most common size 4’ X 4’. The Invention allows two plastic wrapped or net wrapped round bales to be transported without damage to plastic or net one positioned over the other without impaling the bales. The Invention allows plastic wrapped or unwrapped bales to be stacked two high using the same piece of equipment without damage to the plastic or net. The Invention reduces load width by the fact that one bale is over the other.

Background to the Invention The Invention has come about from problems with transporting two plastic or net wrapped round bales side by side resulting in load width greater than 9’ causing bales to get damaged by hedges in narrow roadways and gateways. The plastic and net on wrapped bales must not get tom or damaged because the fodder will decay if air gets in. There is also a safety issue because of load width on country roads and lanes. The key to this Invention is the fact that it transports two wrapped bales without damage and also can stack two bales high. With our Invention the load width is greatly reduced because one bale is over the other, therefore the load is narrower than the tractor reducing risk of damage to plastic wrap on the bales and increasing safety. The Invention allows the transportation of two bales and stacking two bales high with the same piece of equipment, reducing handling and the transferring of bales from carriers to stackers, resulting in one tractor, one driver and one piece of equipment.

Statement of Invention Our Invention first frame is a mast fitted on tractor three point linkage with a hydraulic top link. The mast with a hydraulic ram long enough to lift top bale clear to allow loading of bottom bale. The mast main frame width is less than the distance between the legs of the U frame bottom bale carrier. The. top bale carrier is fitted on to the mast with three point linkage and can be moved up and down the mast by a hydraulic ram. The bottom bale carrier is the key to this Invention and is made up of six main parts.

AU shaped tubular frame 7 which forms the bottom bale carrier Fig. 4.

A box frame Fig.5 to hold U frame Fig.4.

Two angle iron lengths 14 one on each end of box frame Fig.5.

A bar 8 fitted to the U frame 7 front section.

A length of angle iron 15 to fit assembled bottom bale carrier Fig. 6 on to mast 1.

The U frame 7 goes in under bale to lift bottom bale 5.

The box frame Fig.5 is open at the top and the U frame 7 is dropped into box frame Fig.5 before the top 11 of the box frame Fig.5 is fitted. This allows the U frame 7 to rotate in box frame Fig.5.

The bar 8 fitted to the U frame 7 front section in a vertical position when pushed to a horizontal position rotates U frame 7 to a vertical position and vice versa, this bar 8 is pushed by a hydraulic ram 16.

The angle iron lengths 14 one fitted to each end of box frame Fig.5 to prevent U frame 7 from moving side to side, and also acts as a support for U frame 7 when in horizontal position. To assemble, fit the bar 8 to U frame 7, drop U frame 7 into box frame Fig.5, cut slot 13 in front and top of box frame Fig.5 to allow bar 8 to rotate from vertical to horizontal and vice versa. Fit angle iron 14 onto each end of box frame Fig.5, fit top 11 on to box frame Fig.5. This completes the bottom bale carrier Fig. 6. Fit the bottom bale carrier Fig.6 on to base of mast 1 with angle iron 15. The key to the Invention is the U frame 7, it can rotate upwards so the U frame 7 is in a vertical position up along the mast 1 main frame. This allows the top bale carrier 2 to be lowered and raised up and down the mast as required. This concept of the bottom bale carrier U frame 7 rotating upwards to allow top bale carrier 2 to be lowered and raised up and down mast 1 and also allows top bale 4 to be stacked because U frame 7 is folded up out of the way to allow top carrier 2 get in over the bale to be stacked upon Fig.3 Summary of Invention First frame a Mast fitted with bottom and top bale carriers fits on to tractor three point linkage, Raise top carrier up mast by hydraulic ram.

Rotate bottom bale carrier to vertical position.

Lower top bale carrier down fully. Now Invention is ready for idle transport.

In field pick up round bale on top bale carrier and move up mast by hydraulic ram, making space for bottom bale. Now rotate bottom bale carrier down to horizontal position.

Pick up round bale on bottom bale carrier, raise tractor three point linkage for ground clearance. Now top bale can be lowered closer to bottom bale to reduce overall load height, ready for transport to storage area.

In storage area unload bottom bale by lowering tractor three point linkage and driving 15 forward.

Now rotate bottom bale carrier U frame up along mast out of the way to stack top bale, or lower top bale for unloading in the same way as bottom bale or tip top bale on its end.

Brief Description of Drawings There are nine drawings to make Invention more clearly understood.

Figure 1. shows side view of Under and Over Round Bale Carrier / Stacker loaded with two round bales 4 and 5.

Figure 2. shows rear view of Invention loaded with round bales 4 and 5.

Figure 3. shows side view of Invention with top bale carrier 2 stacking round bale 4 on top of bale 5 two high end to end.

Figure 4, shows 3D view of U frame 7 which forms part of bottom bale carrier Fig.6. Figure 5. shows 3D view of bottom bale carrier box frame with angle iron ends 14 to hold U frame Fig.4 and allows U frame to rotate from horizontal position to vertical position and vice versa.

Figure 6. shows 3D view of Figure 4 and Figure 5 assembled together to form bottom bale carrier.

Figure 7. shows side view of bottom bale carrier assembled to mast with angle iron 15. Figure 8. shows side view of Under and Over Round Bale Carrier/Stacker showing Hydraulic ram 16 used to rotate bottom bale carrier from horizontal position to vertical position.

Figure 9. shows front view of Under and Over Round Bale Carrier/Stacker showing top bale carrier 2 in raised position and bottom bale carrier 3 with U frame 7 rotated up along mast 1.

The design of the bottom bale carrier U frame rotation could be applied to fork trucks, teleporters, stackers and front end loaders.

Detailed Description of Drawings Referring now to drawings and initially to Figure 1 is a side view of mast 1. which can be attached to a tractor, three point linkage 6 top bale carrier 2 and bottom bale carrier 3 loaded with round bales 4 and 5.

Referring to Figure 2 shows a rear view of Invention loaded with two plastic wrapped round bales 4 and 5 not impaled or damaged.

Referring to Figure 3 shows a side view of top round bale 4 being stacked end to end on bale 5 and also shows U frame 7 part of bottom bale carrier 3 rotated up along mast 1 out of the way to allow mast 1 to get in close enough to stack bale 4.

Referring to Figure 4 shows 3D view of U frame 7 made from tubular which form part of bottom bale carrier, and the bar 8 fitted vertical on front of U frame 7. This bar has a hole 9 in top end to connect hydraulic ram 16 to move U frame 7 from horizontal position to vertical position and vice versa.

Referring to Figure 5 shows 3D view of box frame to hold U frame 7. The top 11 is fitted after U frame 7 is dropped into box frame. Top plate 11 and inside plate 12 are shorter to allow U frame 7 rotate. Top plate 11 and front plate 10 has a slot 13 formed to allow bar 8 rotate U frame 7 from vertical position to horizontal position and visa versa. On each end of front plate 10 there is a length of angle iron 14 fitted, this Prevents U frame 7 from moving side to side and also supports U frame 7 in horizontal position. The distance between the two angle irons 14 must be greater than the width of the top bale carrier 2 to allow top bale carrier 2 to drop down between two angle irons 14 when picking up bale.

Referring to Figure 6 shows 3D view of Figure 4 and Figure 5 assembled together to form bottom bale carrier 3. This assembly is the Invention that allows the Under and Over Round Bale Carrier/Stacker to function. U frame 7 can rotate upwards, this is done by hydraulic ram applying pressure to bar 8 mounted on front of U frame 7. Angle Irons 14 supporting U frame 7 in horizontal position and also preventing U frame 7 from moving side to side.

Referring to Figure 7 shows side view of bottom bale carrier 3 assembled on to mast 1. The bottom bale carrier 3 is fixed to mast 1 using angle iron 15.

Referring to Figure 8 shows side view of top bale carrier 2 bottom bale carrier 3 mast 1 and hydraulic ram 16 used to rotate U frame 7 from horizontal position to vertical position and visa versa.

Referring to Figure 9 shows front view of Under and Over Round Bale Carrier/Stacker. Top bale carrier 2 in raised position on mast 1. Bottom bale carrier 3 with U frame 7 rotated up along mast 1 to vertical position. Tractor three point linkage 18. Hydraulic ram 17 to lift top bale clear from rotating bottom bale carrier 3 U frame 7 and also lifts top bale clear to allow bottom bale to be loaded.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. An under and over round bale carrier/stacker for attaching to a tractor threepoint linkage for lifting, transporting, stacking and unloading two round bales of material comprising a mast fitted with a top bale carrier and a bottom bale carrier wherein the top bale carrier is raised and lowered using a hydraulic 10 ram and the bottom bale carrier comprises a U-shaped tubular frame, a box frame for the U frame to rotate in, two angle iron lengths, one on each side of the box frame, to act as stops and supports for the U frame when in horizontal position, 15 a bar fitted to the front section of the U frame to connect the hydraulic ram to rotate the U frame, a length of angle iron to fit the assembles bottom bale carrier onto the bottom of the mast, wherein the bottom bale carrier U frame can rotate from a horizontal position to a vertical position and vice versa by the 20 hydraulic ram applying pressure to the bar on the front of the U frame.

2. A carrier/stacker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the distance between the legs of the U frame is greater than the width of the mast main frame to allow the bottom bale carrier to rotate from a horizontal position to a vertical position up 25 along the mast.

3. A carrier/stacker as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bottom bale carrier can rotate from a horizontal position to a vertical position to allow the top bale carrier unrestricted movement up and down the mast in order to 30 stack or tip bales on their end.

4. A bottom bale carrier assembly as claimed in any preceding claim for use on a fork truck, teleporter, stacker or front-end loader. 35

5. A carrier/stacker substantially as herein described with reference to an as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.