BALE UNROLLER

DEROULEUR DE BALLES DE FOURRAGE

English Abstract

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"BALE UNROLLER"
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Round hay bales usually weigh up to 2,000 lbs.
and are difficult to unroll so that cattle can obtain ac-
cess to them for feed. The present invention comprises a
frame attachable to a three-point hitch of a tractor. One
fixed arm extends perpendicularly from one side of the
frame and a hinged arm extends from the other side and is
movable in a vertical plane by means of a hydraulic piston
and cylinder assembly. Each arm is provided with a bale
engaging spike or prong and when it is desired to unroll a
bale, the hinged arm is opened and the two prongs are engag-
ed axially of the bale whereupon the hinged arm is closed.
The three-point hitch mechanism allows the bale to be ele-
vated clear of the ground so that it may be transported by
the tractor to the desired location. The three-point hitch
assembly is then placed in the float position with the peri-
meter of the bale engaging the ground. As the tractor moves
forwardly, the bale rotates on the prongs and unrolls. As
the three-point hitch is in the float position, the unroller
gradually tips rearwardly due to the weight of the bale,
thus keeping the periphery of the bale, which is decreas-
ing in diameter, always in contact with the ground.

Claims

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CLAIMS:
(1) An unroller for use with a three-point hitch
mounting on a tractor for raising and lowering said unroller
and including a "float" position for unrolling bales rolled
about an axis; said bale unroller comprising in combination
a substantially rectangular front support frame, means on
said support frame for operatively connecting same to the
associated three-point hitch mounting, a fixed arm assembly
extending rearwardly from adjacent one end of said support
frame and perpendicular thereto, a movable arm assembly
pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis, to
adjacent the other end of said front support frame, bale
engaging means adjacent the distal ends of said arm assem-
blies and means to move said movable arm assembly from an
open position to a closed position substantially parallel
to said fixed arm assembly and vice-versa; said moving means
comprising a piston and cylinder device with the free end
of the piston attached to one of the movable arm assembly
and the support frame and the free end of the cylinder at-
tached to the other whereby the reaction from the force
applied to the movable arm assembly is applied to the sup-
port frame, and each of said bale engaging means compris-
ing a single spike for engagement along the axis of the
bale.
(2) The unroller according to Claim 1 in which
said bale engaging means includes an end sharpened prong



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extending inwardly from each of said arm assemblies and ly-
ing parallel to said front frame when said arm assemblies
are parallel to one another.
(3) The unroller according to Claim 1 in which
said front support frame includes a pair of vertical posts
in spaced and parallel relationship with one another, and
a pair of horizontal members extending between the upper
and lower ends respectively of said posts and also lying
in spaced and parallel relationship, said fixed arm assem-
bly being secured to and extending rearwardly from one of
said vertical posts, said movable arm assembly including
upper and lower bearing sleeves engaging around the other
of said vertical posts in spaced apart relationship to one
another, a main arm member secured by one end thereof to
the lower of said bearing sleeves, a diagonal tension mem-
ber secured by one end thereof to said upper bearing sleeve,
said diagonal member inclining rearwardly and downwardly to
join said main arm member adjacent the distal end thereof,
said bale engaging means extending inwardly from adjacent
the junction of said members, said means to move said mov-
able arm assembly including an hydraulic piston and cylin-
der assembly operatively extending between said movable arm
assembly and said front support frame.
(4) The unroller according to Claim 2 in which
said front support frame includes a pair of vertical posts
in spaced and parallel relationship with one another, and


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a pair of horizontal members extending between the upper
and lower ends respectively of said posts and also lying
in spaced and parallel relationship, said fixed arm assem-
bly being secured to and extending rearwardly from one of
said vertical posts, said movable arm assembly including
upper and lower bearing sleeves engaging around the other
of said vertical posts in spaced apart relationship to one
another, a main arm member secured by one end thereof to
the lower of said bearing sleeves, a diagonal tension mem-
ber secured by one end thereof to said upper bearing sleeve,
said diagonal member inclining rearwardly and downwardly to
join said main arm member adjacent the distal end thereof,
said bale engaging means extending inwardly from adjacent
the junction of said members, said means to move said mov-
able arm assembly including an hydraulic piston and cylin-
der assembly operatively extending between said movable arm
assembly and said front support frame.
CLAIMS SUPPORTED BY THE SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
(5) An unroller for use with a three-point hitch
mounting on a tractor for raising and lowering said unroller
and including "float" position for unrolling bales rolled
about an axis; said bale unroller comprising in combination
a substantially rectangular front support frame, means on
said support frame for operatively connecting same to the
associated three-point hitch mounting, a fixed arm assembly
extending rearwardly from adjacent one end of said support


-14-

frame and perpendicular thereto, a movable arm assembly
pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis, to
adjacent each end of said front support frame, bale engag-
ing means adjacent the distal ends of said arm assemblies
and means to move said movable arm assemblies from an open
position to a closed position substantially parallel to one
another and vice-versa; said moving means comprising a pis-
ton and cylinder device with the free end of the piston at-
tached to one of the movable arm assembly and the support
frame and the free end of the cylinder attached to the
other whereby the reaction from the force applied to the
movable arm assembly is applied to the support frame, and
each of said bale engaging means comprising a single spike
for engagement along the axis of the bale.
(6) The unroller according to Claim 5 in which
said bale engaging means includes an end sharpened prong
extending inwardly from each of said arm assemblies and ly-
ing parallel to said front frame when said arm assemblies
are parallel to one another.
(7) The unroller according to Claim 5 in which
said front support frame includes a pair of vertical posts
in spaced and parallel relationship with one another, and
a pair of horizontal members extending between the upper
and lower ends respectively of said posts and also lying in
spaced and parallel relationship, pairs of mounting lugs
on each post adjacent each thereof, said movable arm assem-
bly including upper and lower bearing lugs engaging said



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pairs of mounting lugs on said vertical posts in spaced
apart relationship to one another, a main arm member secured
by one end thereof to the lower of said bearing lugs, a
diagonal tension member secured by one end thereof to said
upper bearing lug, said diagonal member inclining rearward-
ly and downwardly to join said main arm member adjacent the
distal end thereof, said bale engaging means extending in-
wardly from adjacent the junction of said members, said
means to move said movable arm assembly including an hy-
draulic piston and cylinder assembly operatively extending
between said movable arm assembly and said front support
frame.
(8) The unroller according to Claim 6 in which
said front support frame includes a pair of vertical posts
in spaced and parallel relationship with one another, and
a pair of horizontal members extending between the upper
and lower ends respectively of said posts and also lying in
spaced and parallel relationship, pairs of mounting lugs
on each post adjacent each thereof, said movable arm assem-
bly including upper and lower bearing lugs engaging said
pairs of mounting lugs on said vertical posts in spaced
apart relationship to one another, a main arm member secured
by one end thereof to the lower of said bearing lugs, a
diagonal tension member secured by one end thereof to said
upper bearing lug, said diagonal member inclining rearward-
ly and downwardly to join said main arm member adjacent the
distal end thereof said bale engaging means extending in-


-16-

inwardly from adjacent the junction of said members, said
means to move said movable arm assembly including an hy-
draulic piston and cylinder assembly operatively extending
between said movable arm assembly and said front support
frame.

Description

1 ~ 5'~ 3
-l-

"BALE UNROLLER"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useEul improve-
ments in bale unrollers. Conventionally, such bales usual-
ly weigh from 1,300 to 2~000 lbs. and may be dimensioned
60 ins. x 72 ins. approximately or 66 ins. x 72 ins. approx-
imately.
When used for feeding cattle, they have to be un-
rolled so that many head of cattle can feed from one bale
and with the weight of such bales and the awkwardness of
transporting same, it is difficult to position the bale
and then unroll it upon the ground.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes these disadvan-
tages by providing a relatively simple attachment for a
three-point hitch assembly of a tractor so that it can first
be raised clear of the ground and transported to the de-
sired location and secondly, it can be unrolled in a long
strip readily and easily.
In accordance with the invention there is provided
an unroller for use with a three-point hitch mounting on a
trac~or for raising and lowering said unroller and includ-
ing a "float" position for unrolling bales rolled about an
axis; said bale unroller comprising in combination a sub-
stantially rectangular front support frame, means on said
support frame for operatively connecting same to the asso-
3~'
~.~

3 3
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ciated three-point hitch mounting, a fixed arm assembly ex-
tending rearwardly from adjacent one end of said support
frame and perpendicular thereto, a movable arm assembly
pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis, to
adjacent the other end oE said front support frame, bale
engaging means adjacent the distal ends of said arm assem-
blies and means to move said movable arm assembly from an
open position to a closed position substantially parallel
to said fixed arm assembly and vice-versa; said moving
means comprising a piston and cylinder device with the free
end of the piston attached to one of the movable arm as~
sembly and the support frame and the free end of the cylinder
attached to the other whereby the reaction from the f~rce
applied to the movable arm assembly is applied to the sup-
port frame, and each of said bale engaging means compris-
ing a single spike for engagement along the axis of the
bale.
In accordance with another aspect of the inven-
tion there is provided a method of unrolling a round hay
bale consisting of engaging the bale axially at each end
by a bale unroller operatively supported upon a three-point
hitch in the float position with the periphery of the bale
engaging the ground and then driving the tractor forwardly
with the weight of the bale maintaining the contact of the
periphery of the bale with the ground.
Another advantage of the invention is that it is


~'``¢~ '

l ~57'133
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readily attached and detached from the three-point hitch
of a tractor so that the tractor can be used for other pur-
poses.
A still further advantage of the invention re--
sides

~ 15 ~ L~ 3



in the fact that the tractor can readily be manoeuvered in-
to position relative to a bale whereupon the mechanism of
the unroller can be actuated to engage the bale holders
axially one within each end of the bale.
A still further advantage of the invention is to
provide a device of the character herewithin described
which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture
and o-therwise well suited to the purpose for which it is
designed.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages
as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which
this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the
invention is herein described by reference to the accompany-
ing drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a descrip-
tion of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles
of the present invention, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
.
Figure 1 is an isometric view of the unroller per
se.
Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of a tractor
showing the unroller in position thereon.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the unroller per
se.
Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of



-- 4



one of the prongs along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.
In the drawings like characters of reference indi-
cate corresponding parts in the difEerent figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIO
Before proceeding with the description of the in
vention, reference to Figure 1 will show the rear end 10 of
a tractor 11 having a three-point hitch assembly thereon
which includes an upper centrally located pivot arm 12 and
spaced and parallel lower raising and lowering arms 13.
The invention collectively designated 14 is de-
signed primarily for use with a category 1 three-point
hitch tractor of approximately 50 to 100 horsepower and is
designed to move hay and straw bales weighing from 1,300 lbso
to 2, ono lbs. and having dimensions of approximately 60 ins.
x 72 ins. and 66 ins. x 72 ins.
However, it will be appreciated that the unroller
can readily be adapted for use with any three point hitch
attachment of a tractor. One of the important features re-
quired is that the three-point hitch be provided with a
"float" position.
Proceeding therefore ~o describe the invention in
detail, the unroller consists of a substantially rectangular
front support frame collectively designated 15 including a
pair of spaced and parallel vertical posts 16 and an upper

~ ~57~3


and lower horizontal member 17 and 18 extending between the
upper and lower ends of the posts 16 respectively and being
secured thereto as by welding. Spaced and parallel verti~
cal brace members 19 extend between the upper and lower
members 17 and 18 intermediate the ends thereof as clearly
shown in Figures 1 and 3.
Means are provided on the rear of this frame to
detachably secure the unroller to the aforementioned three-
point hitch assembly of the tractor 10. A pair of spaced
and parallel lugs 20 are secured and extend rearwardly from
approximately the centre of the upper horizontal member 17
and a heavy duty pin 21 extends through apertures in these
lugs and through the pivot member 12 of the three-point
hitch which is also apertured and which engages between the
lugs 20 thus providing a pivotal connection for the frame.
Extending outwardly from adjacent the lower ends
of the brace members 19, are further heavy duty pins 22 which
detachably engage the spaced and parallel members 13 of the
three-point hitch which are also apertured. Retainers 23
engage the ends of pins 22 to detachably retain the links
13 in position.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that ac-
tuation of the three-point hitch assembly from the hydraulic
system of the tractor (not illustrated) will pivot the front

~57~3



support frame upwardly and downwardly around the axis of
pin 21.
A fixed arm assembly collectively designa-ted 24
is secured to one vertical post 16 of the support frame.
This fixed arm assembly includes a substantially horizon-
tal main arm 25 secured as by welding, by one end thereof,
to adjacent the lower end of the support post 16 and ex-
tending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the
front support frame 15.
A diagonal tension member 26 is secured as by weld-
ing to adjacent the upper end of the vertical post 16 and
extends downwardly and rearwardly to join the main support
arm 25 adjacent the distal ends thereof as indicated by re-
ference character 27. This junction is also welded or other-
wlse secured.
A movable arm assembly collectively designated 28
is pivotally secured to the other vertical support arm spe-
cifically designated 16A and this movable support arm in-
cludes an upper and lower bearing sleeve 29 and 30 bearing-
ly engaged around the support post 16A. A main support arm
25A is secured as by welding, by one end thereof, to the
lowermost bearing sleeve 30 and extends therefrom spaced
and parallel with the main arm 25 when the movable arm as~
sembly 28 is in the bale engaging position shown in Figure 3.

~ 1~7'~33


A diagonal tension member 26A is secured by one
end thereof as by welding, to the upper bearing sleeve 29
and extends rearwardly and downardly ko join the main arm
25A adjacent the distal end thereof as indicated by refer-
ence character 27A. This junction is also welded or other-
wise secured.
Bale engaging means collectively designated 30
extend from the distal ends of each of the main arms 25
and 25A and take the form of an end sharpened spike or
prong 31 bolted or otherwise secured through the distal
ends of the main arms 25 and 25A and extending inwardly
towards one another or parallel to the plane of the front
support frame 15, when the movable arm assembly 28 is in
the bale engaging position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.
Discs 32 are secuxed to the prongs 31 adjacent
the inner ends thereof and limit the engagement of the
prongs with the bale as will hereinafter be described.
Figure 4 shows the preferred cross sectional con-
figuration of the prongs 31 which are provided with radially
extending flanges 33 extending from the perimeter thereof
to facilitate engagement of the prongs with the bale.
However, other cross sectional configurations can of course
be used.
Means are provided to move the movable arm assem-

1~57~33
-- 8



bly 28 from the bale engaging or closed position substanti-
ally parallel to the fixed arm assembly 24, to an opened or
bale disengaged position and vice-versa. Said means pre-
ferably take the form of a hydraulic piston and cylinder
assembly collectively designated 34 operatively connected
to the hydraulic sys-tem (not illustrated) of the associated
tractor 10. The cylinder 35 is pivotally secured to a brac-
ket 36 extending from one of the vertical brace members 19
and the piston rod 37 is pivotally secured to a lug 38 ex-

tending from the main arm 25A of the movable arm assembly
28, adjacent the inner end thereof. Extension and retrac-
tion of the piston and cylinder assembly will move the mo-
vable arm assembly 28 in a substantially vertical plane as
hereinbefore described.
In operation, the device is operatively connected
to the three-point hitch 12 and 13 of the tractor and is
then manoeuvered so that it is adjacent the bale to be pick-
ed up and unrolled thereby. ~he movable arm assembly 28 is
moved open by the piston and cylinder assembly 34 and the
tractor is manoeuvered so that the end of the prong 31 of
the fixed arm assembly 24 is adjacent one side of the bale.
The unroller is positioned by the three-point assembly so
that the prong is at the right height to engage the end ax-
ially whereupon the movable arm assembly 28 is closed by

1 157~




the piston and cylinder assembly 34 thus engaging the prong
of this movable arm, axially with the other end of the bale.
The hydraulic pressure permits the two prongs 31 and 31A to
engage the ends of the bale axially whereupon the unroller
is raised by the three-point hitch assembly so that the
bale is clear of the ground. It may then be moved to the
desired location whereupon the unroller is lowered until
the bale periphery comes into contact with the ground where-
upon the three-point hitch assembly is placed in the "float"
position.
It will be appreciated that the bale must be po-
sitioned between the arms so that when the tractor moves
forwardly, the bale is unrolled.
As the periphery of the bale decreases in diame-
ter, the weight of the bale maintains the periphery in con-
tact with the ground so that the bale is unrolled as clear-
ly indicated in Figure 2 with the tractor driving forwardly.
This results in an elongated strip of hay or
straw spread upon the ground which enables a plurality of
cattle to feed at one time.
The discs 32 restrict the engagement of the prongs
31 and act as clamping plates while the bale is being ele-
vated and transported. It also facilitates rotation of the
bale as it is being unrolled and prevents the ends from en-

~ ~7~3
~ 10 -

gaging the ends of the arm assemblies.
DRAWINGS SUPPORTED BY T~IE SUPPLEMENTARY DISCL~SURE
_
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing
an al-ternative er~odiment.
SUPPLEME~TARY DISCLOSURE
Figure 5 is somewhat similar to Figure 1 except that
square tubing is utilized and the pivotting action has been
changed. Where common reference characters are used, those
in Figure 5 have been primed.
The rectangular front support frame 15' is similar
to that shown in Figure 1 except that square cross section-
ed tubing is utilized.
The spaced and parallel vertical posts 16' and 16A'
are provided with pairs of horizontally situated mounting
lugs 39 adjacent the upper and lower ends of both of the
posts so that the arm assemblies 28' can both be pivotted
for horizontal swinging movement in a manner similar to the
single pivotting arm 28 of the previous embodiment~
In this connection, a single bearing lug 40 extends
2,0 from the front ends of the members 25A' and 26A' engaging
between the relevant pairs of lugs 39 and being pivotally
connected thereto by means of vertical pivot pins 41.
This facilitates the engagement of the bale and of
course both arm assembly 28' are actuated by individual


i .

11$~33
- lOA -



piston and cylinder assemblies 35' controlled by the opera-
tor from the tractor.
Since various modifications can be made in my inven-
tion as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely
different embodiments of same made within the spirit and
scope of the claims without departin~ from such spirit and
scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the ac-
companying specification shall be interpreted as illustra-
tive only and not in a limiting sense.




r ~