NZ196268A - Round bale feeder:suspended endless conveyor - Google Patents

Description

196268 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: 196268 Date: 13 February 198l COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND/OR RELATING TO BALE OFF LOADERS" 1/ COLIN LESLIE LOVERIDGE, a New Zealand citizen, of 2C Sackvalle Street, Fitzroy, New Plymouth, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me/^fe, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 136268 The present invention relates to improvements in and/or relating to bale off loaders and in particular although not solely to hay bale off loaders for handling bales of the large round kind.

Many forms of bale off loader are known capable of dealing with the larger type bales now being made throughout New Zealand. Usually such bales are of a rolled nature such that the same are of a circular cross section. Various forms of bale off loader are currently available. Almost invariably the off loaders fall into one of two kinds. The first kind is one which by virtue of the use of certain penetrative members engages each end of a round bale thus enabling the unwinding thereof to thus feed out a certain amount of hay. The alternative and second form is one which employs a craddle in which the bale can be located and as desired rotated to thus allow the unwinding of the bale and thus the deposit to the ground of the hay. The second form of bale off loader is now finding increasing favour owing to the fact that bales can be supported in such apparatus even when in a partly fed out state. An example of the first of the two kinds of hay bale off loader includes that disclosed in New Zealand Patent Specification No. 178066 and an example of the second kind includes that disclosed in New Zealand patent specification No. 185479.

Of the second kind of large round bale off loader there are two important kinds. The first kind is one that rotates the bale about a rotational axis which is transverse to the direction of travel of the feed out vehicle which is sap^ porting or towing the off loading device. Such a form of apparatus tends to waste a significant portion of the hay owing to the wide extent of the laid out hay being subject to more animal tramping than would be the case if a narrow band or swarth of laid out hay was employed. The second kind is one that rotates the bales about a rotational axis which is parallel to the direction of travel thus enabling a desirable narrow band of hay to be deposited. Such a form of apparatus is as disclosed in New Zealand Patent Specification No. 185479.

Even taking into account however the various commercial models of each that has hitherto been available in New Zealand it becomes clear that either the craddle of the second kind of apparatus is one which can be loaded from one end only and or which is adapted to off load a hay bale to one side only and usually over some form of planar surface which leads to frictional difficulties. Since it is readily realised that a bale is better wound in one direction rather than the other for the easier unwinding thereof there is some advantage in having an off loading appliance of a kind which can be towed or attached to a vehicle which can provide a more easily off loading of a round bale continuously or intimitently to one of two sides.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means and/or methods which will go at least some way to meet some of the abovementioned desiderata or which will 196268 at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in a bale feeder of the side off-loading type substantially as hereinbefore defined comprising a frame capable of being advanced by towing or being carried by a vehicle during feed-out, an endless conveyor capable of supporting and rotating a round bale to be fed out with its longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the advance direction, said conveyor including a drive shaft dependent from the frame supporting the other 11m1t of the conveyor, the bale support regions of the conveyor hanging between and below said limits, and means to rotate said drive shaft in either direction, the construction and arrangement being such that when said drive shaft rotates in one direction in use material from a bale being fed out moves over one limit and down to the ground and when being rotated in the other direction moves over the other limit and down onto the ground.

Preferably said endless conveyor includes spaced moving chains. Preferably said spaced moving chains are roller chains.

Preferably said chains carry slat members each of which is substantially transverse to the chains.

Preferably said chains and/or slat members carry upstanding spikes therein for engagement in a bale to be fed out.

Preferably said means dependent from the frame supporti other limit of the conveyor is means defining a surface over the roller chains can move.

Preferably the bale contacting regions of said endless conveyo?^5" are unsupported from below when supporting a bale thereon in use, such .the P11^0 EC 1985 J 196268 portions of said endless conveyor being reliant for support from said drive shaft and said means dependent from the frame supporting the other limit of the conveyor.

Preferably said means to rotate said drive shaft in either direction is a hydraulic motor driving connected to said shaft, said hydraulic motor being operable to rotate said shaft in either direction dependent upon the nature of the hydraulic system attached thereto.

Preferably said hydraulic motor is attachable to the hydraulic system of a tractor.

Preferably said frame is capable of being carried on forks dependent from a vehicle, said forks being receivable in tubes of said frame which extend substantially parallel to said shaft.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a bale feeder in accordance with the present invention when linked to a tractor or other vehicle for feed-out purposes which can be linked by its hydraulics to said means to rotate said drive shaft in either direction to drive the said shaft in a direction selected by the operator.

Preferably said tractor includes an operator actuable selection to alter the hydraulic feed from the tractor to thereby enable a selection appropriate to rotate said shaft in one of two positions. 196268 In a further aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of feeding out hay from a large round bale which involves the operative use of apparatus in accordance with the present invention substantially as hereinafter described.

One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a rearward perspective view of the preferred bale off loading apparatus in accordance with the present invention attached by a fork type engagement (see figure 5) to a farm tractor, the figure showing a bale being set out to the right of the vehicle and showing how with the catenary support of the bale a positive feeding out occurs notwithstanding any slope on which the tractor and thus the off loading device might be positioned on, Figure 2 is a view from the left rearward side of the apparatus as shown in figure 1 showing how by a control of the direction of movement of the catenary supports the bale can be fed out to the other direction, Figure 3 shows the nature of the catenary drive which constitutes the upper span of the endless belt and preferably chain shown in broken outline, the upper two circles denoting t^e upper extemity supports or in the preferred form the upper left circle denoting a rotatable shaft which carries sprockets for the endless chain with the upper right hand circle showing either a rotatable drum (i.e. shaft) or a "7, 196268 -pf- static drum or tube or the equivalent over which roller chains can pass, figure 3 also showing with the lower most circles means (preferably against which friction is minimised) over which the lowermost inside region of the chain or belting or the equivalent can contact in order to maintain spacing from the bottom of the catenary so that only the upper catenary length of the chain comes into a driving contact with a hay bale, in the preferred form of the present invention of course the chain being a roller chain with bale engagement spikes protruding outwardly and with only the drive shaft of the various members shown in figure 3 being rotated to drive the endless length of chain, Figure 4 is a perspective view in detail showing the nature of the apparatus with its upstanding support frame beyond preferably the upper extremity of the endless chain, (it being seen that preferably there are only two chains) also showing how bale engagement and supporting slats span between the endless chain in a direction parallel to the rotational direction of the first mentioned shaft and Figure 5 shows the front end of the apparatus showing tubes into which vehicle mounted forks or the equivalent can be engaged to enable the easy engagement and disengagement of the frame of the off loader from or to a vehicle for easy off loading of a hay bale which if desired can be left on the apparatus partly fed out, figure 5 also showing to the right a hydraulic motor capable of rotating said first shaft in one of two directions depending on which of the two hoses leading thereto takes the input side of the hydraulic circuit -\\ orfrom the towing vehicle. 196268 Ntrri. <jj /"s,' In the preferred form of the present invention the frame 1 has a first mentioned shaft 2 which has positioned thereon a pair of sprockets 3 each of which engages with its respective endless loops of chain 4. The other main support for the endless loop of chain 4 is preferably a static member of circular section about which the roller chain 4 can smoothly roll.

Preferably such a member.5 is of a diameter to minimise chain wear. Obviously however such a member 5 could be mounted so as to be freely rotatable under the action of the chain notwithstanding the fact that ideally the chain is a roller chain. A similar arrangement occurs with the bottom loop engagement members 6 which ensure that the catenary 4 does not bottom and maintains substantially the same configuration as shown in figure 3 when unloaded except in respect of any slopping from side to side which slopping of course will be enhanced by the addition of a bale thereto (see figure 1) . It can be seen however that with the arrangement shown and preferably with shaft 2 and member 5 being arranged to be at substantially the same height the drive will be such that dependent on the selection of the input of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor a hay bale will off load to one side or the other. Preferably the hydraulic motor is attached next to the shaft 2.

Other features of note in the machine include the provision of the slat or the like members preferably with I ,y<v * v\ attached spikes which span between adjacent lengths of 7v 1 chain. Other features include the provision of members 7 ^ \\/> ^ which upstand or can be removed if desired. Such members 7 -jer- 196268 are ideal for rough country to ensure a bale does not fall free from the craddle of the device.

Also by providing cross members 8 at each end and arranging the apparatus substantially as shown it is possible to nest one craddle within an other thus facilitating packing for export or other transport purposes.

It is believed therefore that by providing improved bale off loading apparatus in accordance with the present invention widespread advantages of not being able to feed intimitently if desired first to one side then to the other side of a tractor for animal spreading purposes or for feeding over a fence when passing along the fence in one direction and over a fence to the other side of the vehicle (for example when passing down a track) said apparatus in accordance with the present invention would greatly minimise feed out time. It is believed therefore that the present invention should find widespread acceptance.

Claims (2)

196268 10 - WE WHAT X CLAIM IS: 1. A bale feeder of the side off-loading type substantially as hereinbefore defined comprising a frame capable of being advanced by towing or being carried by a vehicle during feed-out, an en<ll|ess conveyor capable of supporting and rotating a round bale to be fed out with its longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the advance direction, said conveyor including a drive shaft dependent from the frame supporting one limit of the conveyor and means dependent from the frame supporting the other limit of the conveyor, the bale support regions of the conveyor hanging between and below said limits, and means to rotate said drive shaft in either direction, the construction and arrangement being such that when said drive shaft rotates in one direction which tends to unwind a bale, material from such a bale being fed out moves over one limit and down to the ground and when being rotated in the other direction would tend to move material (if any is removed from the bale) over the other limit and down onto the ground.

2. A bale feeder as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said endless conveyor includes spaced moving chains. > 3. A bale feeder as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said spaced moving chains are roller chains. 4. A bale feeder as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said chains carry slat members each of which 1s substantially transverse to the 5. A bale feeder as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said chains and/or slat members carry upstanding spikes therein for engagement in a bale to be fed out - 11 - 190268 6. A bale feeder as claimed in Claim 3 or any one of the preceding claims dependent on Claim 3 wherein said means dependent from the frame supporting the other limit of the conveyor is means defining a surface over which the roller chains can move. 7. A bale feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bale contacting regions of said endless conveyor are unsupported from below when supporting a bale thereon in use, such portions of said endless conveyor being reliant for support from said drive shaft and said means dependent from the frame supporting the other limit of the conveyor. 8. A bale feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims Wherein said means to rotate said drive shaft in either direction is a hydraulic motor drivingly connected to said shaft, said hydraulic motor being operable to rotate said shaft in either direction dependent upon the nature of the hydraulic system attached thereto. 9. A bale feeder as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said hydraulic motor is attachable to the hydraulic system of a tractor. 10. A bale feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said frame is capable of being carried on forks dependent from a vehicle, said forks being receivable in tubes of said frame which extend substantially parallel to said shaft. r as claimed in any one of the preceding claims '"accompanying drawings. hereinbefore described with reference to any of the 196268 12 - 12. A bale feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when linked to a tractor or other vehicle for feed-out purposes which can be linked by its hydraulics to said means to rotate said drive shaft in either direction to drive the said shaft in a direction selected by the operator. 13. A bale feeder as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said bale feeder is a bale feeder as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said tractor includes an operator actuable selection to alter the hydraulic feed from the tractor to thereby enable a selection appropriate to rotate said shaft in one of two directions. 14. A method of feeding out a bale substantially as hereinbefore described with or without reference to any of the accompanying drawings using a bale feeder as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13. dated thtsso^oay 19^ A. J. PARK & SON PER ■ agents for the applicants