Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
)5BC~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for
handling and storing baled hay, and more particularly relates to a
method and apparatus for a farmer with, for example, a few head of
cattle or a few horses, who therefore requires smaller amounts of hay
in a size managable by hand, e.g. bales of hay weighing approximately
50 pounds each.
Presently retrieval of bales of hay which have been formed
in the field is carried out, for example, by hand where a tractor
pulls a hay wagon alongside a row of bales on the ground. A person
picks up the bales and throws them onto the hay wagon. Alternatively
a pop up loader (attached ~o the side of the hay wagon) is used to
pick the bales up and drop them onto the hay wagon. When full, the
hay wagon is pulled to the barn where its is unloaded usually with
the help of a mechanical elevator. The unloaded hay bales are
restacked in the barn for drying and storage.
Alternatively, a hay wagon may be attached to the rear of a
baler being pulled by a tractor, and the bales are dropped onto the
hay wagon which, when full, is ~mloaded in the barn as described
above. Yet another method of retrieving bales of hay from the field
is through the use of an automatic bale wagon. This device is pulled
by a tractor or self-propelled, and mechanically picks up the bales
of hay from the ground and stacks them on its own hay bale rack.
While this method is increasing in use because of the minimal labour
required, it is very expensive and slow (e.g. such a machine which
- 1-
~60S80
will load 2,000 bales of hay a day may COSt $20,000 dollars). The
automatic bale wagon when filled proceeds to the barn and unloads its
whole load automatically.
Present day methods of storage of hay largely involve
storage in barns. A minimal amount of hay is stored in the field.
With field storage of hay, the hay is piled and covered by a
tarpaulin or plastic sheeting to prevent rain and snow from soaking
into the hay and causing it to rot. This method is unreliable in
wind, and provides short lasting protection for the hay.
As well, it should be noted that racks for carry~ng hay
have been described and illustrated in the prior art. For example,
U.S. Patents Nas. 1,043,469 of Schroeder issued November 5, 1912,
1,046,069 of Hunt issued December 3, 1912, 1,163,820 of Hetzner
issued December 14, 1915, 1,259,403 of Hunt issued March 12, 1918,
and 2,514,785 of Nechville et al issued July 11, 1950 all describe
hay racks on which hay to be transported to a barn may be placed for
transportation on a wagon. Such racks have comprised floor sections
and upright ends. None of these prior art references however has
provided a rack which was also suitable for storing of hay in open
areas, where the hay would otherwise be exposed to the elements.
Another reference of background interest is Canadian Patent No.
1,099,235 of Zimmerman issued April 14, 1981 in which a hay bale skid
for dragging along the ground is described and illustrated.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
relatively inexpensive, efficient method and apparatus for handling
and storing baled hay or other similar products which will avoid the
0
need for a barn. It is a further object of the present inventior. to
provide such a method and apparatus which will be particuarly useful
for handling and storing smaller amounts of hay.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a
method and apparatus for handling and storing baled hay. Baled hay
is collected on a rigid transportable pallet having a horizontal
platform and means extending vertically therefrom to support a rigid
roof spaced above that platform. The pallet is of a si~e that is
readily transportable on the frame of a truck or trailer, with
stacking rectangular bales of hay to a predetermined height on the
pallet. These stacked rectangular bales of hay are stored for future
use on the pallet with a rigid roof supported by the support means to
protect the hay from rain or snow. The pallet itself has a
horizontal platform and side and end braces extending in vertical
planes upwardly from the edges of the platform. One or more rigid
flat roof panels are supported by the end braces in spaced,
preferably paralle], relationship to the platform. The surface area
of the roof panels when in position covers and overhangs the surface
of the platform whereby hay stacked on the platform is sheltered from
rain or snow.
The pallets are designed for alignment adjacent similar
pallets, with adjacent roof panels of the plurality of aligned
pallets being supported in abutting relationship. Overlapping roof
panels are provided to seal the joint between adjacent panels to make
-- 3 --
1~0S8~
that joint waterproof. In this arrangement, the roof panels provide
waterproof shelter for all of the hay stored on the pallet platform.
Thus the system and apparatus according to the present
invention enables hay to be dried and stored in open areas avoiding
the need for expensive and large barns. As well, since hay may be
stored on the pallet platforms themselves, signiicant reduction of
labour and expensive machinery requirements in handling and trans-
porting the hay is accomplished. These advantages apply particularly
to the handling and storage of smaller amounts of hay. Since the
roof panels may be placed in position as soon as the pallets are
filled, the time taken to place hay under cover is significantly
reduced over traditional methods of handling hay.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon
referring to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filled pallet,
according to the present invention, being unloaded from a wagon for
transportation to a storage area;
Figure 2 is a plan view from the top of a number of pallets
according to the present invention aligned with roof panels in
position;
Figure 3 is a side view of the aligned pallets of Figure 2
with roof panels in position; and
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a roof panel according to
the present invention.
-- 4 --
1~60S80
While the invention will be described in connection with an
example embodiment, it will be understood that it is no~ intended to
limit the invention to such embodiment. On the contrary, it is
intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as
may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.
In the following description, similar features have been
given similar reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning to Figure 1, there is shown a plurality of hay
bales 2 stacked on a rigid, transportable pallet 4. The pallet is
preferably of a size which will readily fit on the back of a flatdeck
truck or on a hay wagon 6. Pallet 4 comprises a horizontal platform
8 constructed out of an appropriate material such as sheet iron. It
is preferable that this platform be of rectangular shape, and it may
be of dimensions for example in the order of 16 feet long and 8 feet
wide. End braces 10 and side braces 12 are preferably made of angle
iron and welded to platform 8. End braces 10 and side braces 12
extend upwardly in vertical planes about the periphery of platform 8.
End braces 10 may have a height for example of about 10 feet, and are
provided with an end bar 13 extending horizontally across the upper
ends of vertical members as shown.
To cover hay bales 2 stacked and stored on pallets 4, rigid
flat roof panels 14 (Figures 2, 3 and 4~ are provided. These panels
may be constructed from galvanized tin roofing or plywood, and
:1~60~30
reinforced with a frame 15 of wood or other material as illustrated,
and are of a surface area to cover and overhang the surface of
platform 8 when in position as shown in Figure 2. For ease of
handling, it is preferable that a plurality of roof panels 14 be
provided for covering a pallet. The space 18 which is formed between
two abutting panels 14 when in position on one or more (aligned)
pallets 4 is covered by overlap section 16 of one of the panels 14
so as to be watertight and to prevent seepage of moisture from the
roof panels into the hay stored therebeneath. Platform 8, as
illustrated in Figure 3, when loaded and covered for storage, is
preferably oriented longitudinally at a slight incline, and the roof
panels 14 are aligned similarly on end bars 13, with overlap section
16 of each panel 14 positioned at the downhill side of that panel, in
shingle fashion. In this way, rainwater falling on the roof sections
will run down the incline of the panels and off, without falling
through spaces 18 onto the hay stored beneath.
Supports 24 (Figures 1 and 3) beneath platform 8 are
provided, preferably of fir or other wood, to elevate the platform
above a supporting surface, and enable forklift means 26 (Figure 1)
to slip beneath the platform for lifting.
In operation, a pallet 4 is for example set onto a hay
wagon 6 by means of a fork lift means 26. The wagon with a pop up
loader (not shown) attached to it is pulled by a tractor. The pop up
loader picks up bales of hay from the ground and drops them on the
device where they are stacked manually until the pallet is filled
with bales of hay (for the sizes envisaged by this invention, 200
~60S80
bales of hay, usually 14 inches by 16 inches by 42 inches, weighing
approximately 50 pounds each, are stacked on an 8 ~ 16 foot platform
to a level of 8 layers with 25 bales per layer). The full container
is then taken to a depot area on the field or to a storage area where
it i9 set on a slightly sloping section of ground. An appropriate
roof panel or panels 14 are seated on the top of the full pallet and,
if necessary, secured in position. For storage, where more than one
pallet is used, the next full pallet is placed adjacent the first
one, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, so that the sides of roof
panels 14 are abutting and overlap sections 16 extend across space 18
between adjacent panels. In this way no rain can penetrate the roof
panels 14. Roof panels 14 permit increased speed in placing hay
under cover even in the filed where unstable weather conditions might
require. The size and ease of handling of pallets 4 also assist in
further handling of hay, for example in delivering of hay by a hay
farmer to a customer. When hay stored on a pallet is to be used or
delivered to a customer, the roof sections are removed (likely with
the aid of fork lift means 26) and the pallet 4 is lifted on to a
truck or wagon for delivery. The pallet and method of the present
invention work very well ~or their intended purpose, with tremendous
labour savings, greatly enhanced speed and no requirement for a
formal expensive barn.
Thus, is is apparent that there has been provided in
accordance with the invention a method and apparatus for handling and
storing baled hay that fully satisfies the objects, aims and
advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described
in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that
many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.
Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications and variations as fall witin the spirit and broad scope
of the appended claims.
-- 8 --
