Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02276818 1999-06-30
KVAS MILLER EVERITT CANADA
File No. 561-ER2
TITLE: BALE LOADING DEVICE
INVENTORS: EDWARD REIST
ROBERT MUSSELMAN
CA 02276818 1999-06-30
TITLE: Bale Loading Device
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a bale loading device that assists in the loading of
bales of hay
or straw onto a wagon, trailer or platform.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When hay or straw is cut in a field it is typically formed and tied into
rectangular shaped
bales through the use of automatic baling equipment. Such equipment normally
deposits
the tied bales in rows across the field, leaving the bales to be later picked
up and
transported to a barn or other storage facility. Traditionally the bales were
manually
lifted and stacked upon a wagon drawn by a horse, tractor or other piece of
machinery.
However, such work was slow, difficult and labour intensive. To reduce the
amount of
manual labour required to load and transport bales of hay or straw others have
developed
automatic loading devices that mechanically lift the bales from the ground and
place or
stack them upon a wagon or trailer. Such devices have also been developed as a
result
of an increase in large scale farming, where bales weighing upwards of several
hundred
pounds are often utilized. Unfortunately, such devices generally include the
use of
various types of conveyor belts and/or fixed axm loaders that are mechanically
inefficient, and that include a large number of moving parts that are
susceptible to wear
and breakage. Such devices are also not readily adaptable to utilization on
bales of
different sizes or weights.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention therefore provides an apparatus for loading and transporting
bales of hay
or straw which is simple and efficient in operation, that is devoid of
conveyor systems,
and that comprises relatively few moving parts. In one embodiment the
apparatus is
also capable of loading bales of different sizes and weights.
Accordingly, in one of its aspects the invention provides an apparatus for
loading and
transporting bales of hay or straw, the apparatus comprising a chassis having
mounted
thereon a plurality of wheels to permit said chassis to be moved along the
surface of the
ground; at least one bale receiving table mounted on said chassis to receive
one or more
bales of hay or straw loaded thereon; a bale loader pivotally mounted on said
chassis,
said bale loader including an inwardly disposed longitudinal arm and an
outwardly
disposed longitudinal arm, said inwardly and outwardly disposed longitudinal
arms
I S laterally spaced apart by a cross member, said inwardly and outwardly
disposed
longitudinal arms and said cross member being generally co-planer with at
least one of
said arms pivotally connected to said cross member; means to pivot said at
least one
inwardly or outwardly disposed longitudinal arm about said cross member to
increase
or decrease the distance between said arms so as to grasp or release a bale of
hay or
straw therebetween; and, means to pivot said bale loader about said chassis to
enable the
lifting of a bale of hay or straw onto said bale receiving table.
In a further aspect the invention provides a bale loading device for loading
bales of hay
or straw onto a wagon or platform, the device comprising an inwardly disposed
longitudinal arm and an outwardly disposed longitudinal arm connected to and
laterally
spanned by a cross member, said inwardly and outwardly disposed longitudinal
arms
and said cross member defining a bale receiving opening therebetween for
receiving a
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bale of hay or straw; pivot means to allow said inwardly and outwardly
disposed
longitudinal arms and said cross member to pivot upwardly so as to deposit a
bale of hay
or straw onto the wagon or platform when the bale is received within said bale
receiving
opening; and, at least one kicker arm, said kicker arm assisting in the
expulsion of a
bale of hay or straw from said bale receiving opening onto the wagon or
platform
through the application of force to the bale.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the
following description taken together with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly
how it may
be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the
1 S accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiments of the present
invention
in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus for loading and transporting bales of
hay or
straw pursuant to the present invention would be typically drawn behind a
tractor or
vehicle;
Figure 2 is a detailed side elevational view of the apparatus for loading and
transporting
bales of hay or straw shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front upper perspective view of the bale loader of the present
invention;
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Figure 4 is a top plan view of the bale loader shown in Figure 3 in its open
position and
showing how it would be received around a bale of hay or straw;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the bale loader shown in Figure 4 in its closed
position;
Figure 6a is a front elevational view of the bale loader shown in Figure 5 as
viewed from
direction "6" in Figure 5;
Figure 6b is a front elevational view of the bale loader of Figure 6a that has
been pivoted
upwardly by approximately 45 degrees;
Figure 6c is a front elevational view of the bale loader shown in Figure 6a
having been
pivoted upwardly to an approximately vertical position to thereby deposit a
bale of hay
or straw onto a wagon or trailer;
Figure 6d is a front elevational view of the bale loader shown in Figure 6a
that has been
pivoted upwardly such that its kicker arms have been engaged to drive the bale
onto the
wagon or trailer;
Figure 7 is a front side perspective view of the bale loading apparatus where
a plurality
of bales that have been deposited upon a forward table are being lifted for
storage on a
rearward table; and,
Figure 8 is a front side perspective view of the bale loading apparatus
wherein the
rearward table has been rotated to an approximately vertical position so as to
unload the
bales of hay or straw retained thereon.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention may be embodied in a number of different forms. However,
the
specification and drawings that follow describe and disclose only some of the
specific
forms of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the
invention as defined
in the claims that follow herein.
Referring to Figure 1, there is depicted therein an apparatus 1 for loading
and
transporting bales of hay or straw according to one embodiment of the
invention. In
Figure 1 apparatus 1 is shown as being pulled or towed by a tractor 2.
Typically
apparatus I would be pulled through a field by a tractor or other farm
vehicle, however,
it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in some instances it
may be
desirable to construct the device with its own internal mode of propulsion. In
such cases
the apparatus would typically include a gasoline or diesel engine and a drive
train. In
addition, with an appreciation of the invention it will be understood that
while the
primary applications of apparatus I are considered to be for loading and
transporting
bales of hay or straw, the device may equally be used for purposes of loading
and
transporting other crops that are bundled in bales, or other products having
similar
configurations.
As is shown more specifically in Figure 2, apparatus I generally comprises a
chassis 3,
a bale receiving table 4 and a bale loader 5. Chassis 3 would typically have
mounted
thereon one or more axles containing wheels to allow the chassis to be pulled
through
a field or along a road. Where apparatus 1 contains its own internal mode of
propulsion,
wheels 6 would typically be connected to a drive train.
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In the embodiment of apparatus 1 shown in the attached drawings, bale
receiving table
4 is mounted generally on the front portion or front end 7 of chassis 3. Bale
receiving
table 4 is generally rectangular in shape and dimensioned so as to be capable
of
receiving and holding a desired number of bales of hay or straw. In Figures 1
through
8, bale receiving table 4 is of a size that receives four bales, however,
table 4 could
equally be made smaller or larger depending upon its particular application
and the
requirements of end users.
Bale loader 5 is pivotally mounted on chassis 3 is and is preferably adjacent
to bale
receiving table 4. Bale loader 5 includes an inwardly disposed longitudinal
arm 8 and
an outwardly disposed longitudinal arm 9 that are laterally spaced apart by a
cross
member 10. Inwardly disposed longitudinal arm 8 and outwardly disposed
longitudinal
arm 9 are generally co-planer and oriented generally parallel to the
longitudinal axis of
chassis 3, and to the direction of travel of apparatus 1. In one preferred
embodiment of
the invention, at least one of arms 8 and 9 is pivotally connected to cross
member 10.
In the attached Figures, outwardly disposed longitudinal arm 9 is shown as
pivotally
connected to cross member 10 whereas inwardly disposed longitudinal arm 8 is
rigidly
fixed to the cross member. 'the opening defined by inwardly disposed
longitudinal arm
8, outwardly disposed longitudinal arm 9 and cross member 10 represents a bale
receiving opening 11 for receiving and retaining a bale of hay or straw. By
varying the
spacing between arms 8 and 9, bales of different sizes can be received and
retained
within opening 11.
It will thus be appreciated that through pivotal movement of outwardly
disposed
longitudinal arm 9, the dimensions of bale receiving opening 11 can be varied.
For
example, arm 9 may be pivoted outwardly and away from arm 8 to enlarge bale
receiving opening 11 and to facilitate the accommodation and receipt of a bale
of hay
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or straw therein. Once a bale is received within opening 11 outer arm 9 can be
pivoted
inwardly toward arm 8 to firmly grasp and hold the bale in place. It will also
be
understood that through pivotal movement of outwardly disposed longitudinal
arm 9
about cross member 10, the distance between the outer free ends of arms 8 and
9, 12 and
13 respectively, may be increased or decreased whereas the difference between
the fixed
ends of arms 8 and 9, 14 and 1 S respectively, remains relatively unchanged.
This
enables bale receiving opening to be "opened up" at its forward end in order
to help
receive and direct a bale of hay or straw into the central portion of opening
11. The
ability to "open up" bale receiving opening 11 also helps to direct bales into
loader 5 in
instances where the bales are not in alignment, or are not positioned parallel
to the
direction of travel of apparatus 1. Free ends 12 and 13 may include outwardly
directed
chamfers or bent guides 16 and 17 that further assist in directing a bale into
bale
receiving opening 11.
To assist in grasping a bale of hay or straw, in the preferred embodiment
outwardly
disposed longitudinal arm 9 includes a longitudinal roller 21 mounted along
its interior
surface and generally inclined from fixed end 15 to free end 13. Roller 21 and
its
attachment to the interior surface of outwardly disposed longitudinal arm 9 is
shown
most clearly in Figures 3 and 4. The positioning and inclination of roller 21
is such that
upon pivotal movement of outwardly disposed longitudinal arm 9 toward inwardly
disposed longitudinal arm 8 a bale of hay or straw positioned within bale
receiving
opening 11 is lifted slightly from the ground, with roller 21 driven beneath
the bale. In
this manner the bale is lifted and supported by outwardly disposed
longitudinal arm 9.
To help stabilize the bale arm 9 may include a lateral support member 22 (see
Figure 3).
As also show in Figure 3, inwardly disposed longitudinal arm 8 preferably
includes a
kicker rail 23 pivotally mounted along its outer edge. When a bale of hay or
straw is
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positioned within bale receiving opening 11 and arm 9 rotated toward arm 8
such that
longitudinal roller 21 is driven beneath the bale, the opposite side of the
bale is
simultaneously driven against kicker rail 23 causing the bale to ride up upon
the kicker
rail such that bale is generally supported by both kicker rail 23 and
longitudinal roller
21. Whereas the attached drawings show a continuous kicker rail 23 pivotally
mounted
to inwardly disposed longitudinal arm 8, it should be appreciated that in an
alternate
embodiment of the invention kicker rail 23 may be comprised of one or more
kicker arms
positioned along the length of arm 8.
Apparatus 1 also includes means to pivot bale loader 5 about chassis 3 to
enable the
lifting of a bale of hay or straw onto bale receiving table 4. In the
preferred embodiment
the means to pivot bale loader 5 comprises a pair of pivot arms 18 attached to
chassis 3
about which bale loader 5 may be rotated from an approximately horizontal to
an
approximately vertical position. Preferably the force required to pivot or
rotate bale
loader 5 about arms 18 is supplied through a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder
19
connected to a pressurized fluid supply and control system for either manual
or
automatic actuation. Similarly, in the preferred embodiment a pneumatic or
hydraulic
cylinder 20, connected to the same control system, is utilized for purposes of
pivoting
outwardly disposed longitudinal arm 9 about cross member 10.
The general manner of lifting and depositing a bale of hay or straw received
within
opening 11 will now be described with specific reference to Figures 6a through
6d.
Figures 6a through 6d show bale loader S pivotally mounted to chassis 3 with
bales of
hay or straw 24 shown in dotted outline. Referring to Figure 6b, with bale 24
securely
held between inwardly disposed longitudinal arm 8 and outwardly disposed
longitudinal
arm 9, cylinder 19 is activated to rotate bale loader 5 about pivot arms 18 on
chassis 3.
As bale loader 5 is rotated bale 24 is lifted until its interior side surface
comes into
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contact with the side or lateral edge 25 of bale receiving table 4. Further
upward rotation
of bale loader 5 causes bale 24 to be pushed and deposited upon bale receiving
table 4
(see Figure 6c). When bale receiving table 4 is empty, bale 24 is merely
lifted and
deposited upon the surface of the table. However, where one or more bales have
previously been deposited upon the table, the subsequent bale that is lifted
by bale loader
5 contacts the previously loaded bale and drives the one or more bales
positioned on the
surface of table 4 laterally across the table. To facilitate the loading of
bale 24 upon bale
receiving table 4, and to prevent damage to the bale through contact with side
25 of table
4, in the preferred embodiment one or more rollers 32 are positioned along
side 25.
As bale loader 5 is rotated and approaches a vertical orientation, bale 24
will come to rest
with one of its sides laying flat upon the upper surface of the table (see
Figure 6c). At
this point the outer side of bale 24 will in most instances still slightly
overhang the side
of table 4 (see Figure 6c). To assist in driving the bale completely onto the
table, in the
1 S preferred embodiment kicker rail 23 includes activation means 26 that
causes the kicker
rail to rotate relative to inwardly disposed longitudinal arm 8 upon further
upward
rotation or pivotal movement of bale loader 5 about chassis 3. As shown in
Figures 3
and 6d, activation means 26 preferably comprises at least one activation lever
27 that
contacts the chassis upon upward rotation or pivotal movement of bale loader
5. As bale
loader 5 is rotated upwardly toward a vertical orientation, activation lever
27 will come
into contact with roller 32 positioned on side 25 of receiving table 4.
Further rotational
movement of bale loader 5 then causes a rotation or pivoting of kicker rail 23
about
inwardly disposed longitudinal arm 8 and results in the application of an
additional
laterally directed force being applied to bale 24 driving it inwardly toward
the centre of
bale receiving table 4. It will thus be appreciated that activation lever 27
and kicker rail
23 together assist in the expulsion of bale 24 from bale receiving opening 11
so that the
bale is fully received upon the upper surface of table 4. Once bale loader 5
has been
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fully rotated through full extension of cylinder 20 and bale 24 deposited upon
table 4,
cylinder 20 is retracted to return bale loader S to its generally horizontal
position, slightly
above the ground level, so that next bale can be directed and received into
bale receiving
opening 11.
In one embodiment of apparatus 1, there is further included a rearward bale
receiving
table 28. Table 28 is positioned immediately behind bale receiving table 4 and
also
pivotally mounted upon chassis 3. When bale receiving table 4 has been loaded
to its
capacity, it is rotated upwardly, preferably through the use of pneumatic or
hydraulic
cylinders 29, in order to deposit the bales thereon onto rearward table 28. As
shown in
Figure 7, when pivoted upwardly, bale receiving table 4 will deposit bales
onto rearward
table 28 such that they are oriented in an upward fashion and supported on
their ends.
Typically rearward table 28 would include a self adjusting tailgate or fork 30
to support
and maintain the bales in a vertical orientation. Rearward table 28 is also
preferably
inclined toward bale receiving table 4 such that bales that are loaded thereon
have a
tendency to lean backwardly and be supported by tailgate 30. After the
contents of bale
receiving table 4 have been deposited onto rearward table 28, bale receiving 4
may be
returned to its generally horizontal position and once again loaded by bale
loader 5.
Subsequent rows of bales of hay or straw on table 4 may be similarly deposited
onto
rearward table 28. To accommodate subsequent rows of bales loaded onto table
28 from
table 4, self adjusting tailgate 30 may be manually or automatically adjusted
toward the
rear of table 28.
Upon fully loading rearward table 28, apparatus 1 may be towed or driven to a
desired
location for unloading. At that point, rearward table 28 is rotated upwardly
by way of
additional pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders 31. Rotation of table 28 to an
approximately
vertical position will cause bales loaded thereupon to be unloaded onto the
ground and
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maintained in a generally rectangular, stacked configuration. Completing the
unloading
cycle then merely requires pulling apparatus 1 away from the stack of bales to
remove
self adjusting tailgate 30 from beneath the lower bales. Thereafter, rearward
table 28 is
rotated back to its resting position on chassis 3 wherein it is slightly
inclined toward bale
receiving table 4.
In addition to the structure described above and as show in the attached
drawings, bale
loading device 1 will typically include a hydraulic or pneumatic control
system to
operate the various cylinders that result in movement of structures utilized
for purposes
of loading and unloading bales of hay or straw. It will be appreciated by
those skilled
in the art that a wide variety of different control systems could be utilized
for such
purposes. For example, in its simplest form the control system could
compromise a
series of lines or piping connected to manual control switches or levers. In a
more
complex form, the control system may include a series of sensors or limit
switches that
are connected to a microprocessor control that automatically activates the
various
cylinders at the appropriate time. The source of pressurized pneumatic or
hydraulic fluid
may be self contained within apparatus I or may be drawn from facilities
available upon
the tractor or other vehicle used to tow the bale loading apparatus. In
addition, while in
the preferred embodiment the means of activating the various components of
bale
loading apparatus 1 is through the use of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, it
should be
realized that mechanical gear and shaft drive systems, or electrical drive
systems,
including electric solenoids, may be used.
It is to be understood that what has been described are the preferred
embodiments of the
invention and that it may be possible to make variations to these embodiments
while
staying within the broad scope of the invention. Some of these variations have
been
discussed while others will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
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