Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
EXPANDABLE BALE CARRIER AND FEEDER
Abe B. Kuhns
BACK ROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an
expandable livestock feeder and flexible chassis
therefor, and more particularly, to an expandable hay
bale carrier and feeder for transporting and presenting
hay bales for feeding by livestock in the field.
A wide variety of livestock feeders have been
employed in the past for the feeding of livestock in the
field. In general, these feeders typically comprise a
container of one form or another for containing one or
more bales of hay. The container walls usually have
openings therein to permit access by the livestock to
feed on the hay within the container from outside of the
container. In some instances the feeder is designed to
be placed in a relatively permanent location in the
field where it is initially filled and replenished at
that location. In other instances the feeder is mounted
on a wheeled chassis so that it may be transported from
one location to another, such as for loading.
The non-transportable relatively permanently
positioned feeders suffer a number of obvious
disadvantages as a result of their generally non-
transportable nature. Even the prior chassis mounted
feeders which permit the transport of the feeder from
one location to another have a number of disadvantages.
One disadvantage is that many of the prior transportable
feeders generally have a limited capacity. This is
because the width of the feeder has generally been
limited to a width which will permit livestock on each
side of the feeder to be able to reach the hay in the
center of the feeder. If the feeder width was increased
-2-
in order to accommodate large bales in side by side
relationship, the center of the feeder generally is not
accessible by the livestock and a substantial amount of
hay would remain unconsumed. Thus, the prior feeders,
whether transportable or not, generally have not been
capable of holding more than one large round bale of hay
in side by side relationship. Multiple large hay bales
could only be accommodated if the length of the feeder
was substantially extended. However, extension of the
feeder length presents its own difficulties,
particularly where the feeder is chassis mounted for
maneuvering and transport.
Another disadvantage experienced in the prior
feeders, whether transportable or not, is the difficulty
experienced in loading or unloading the feeders due to
the fixed nature of the feeder side and end walls. Such
feeders typically require loading with a front end
loader and, once loaded, are difficult if not impossible
to unload except by consumption of the contents by the
livestock.
Still another disadvantage experienced by the
prior feeders is their inability to compensate for the
progressive consumption of the hay in the feeder.
Specifically due to the fixed nature of the feeder
walls, as the hay is consumed by the livestock, the
walls remain stationary and act as a barrier to the
livestock's access to the hay remaining in the feeder.
An attempt has been made to overcome the
foregoing disadvantages by mounting the feeder side
walls in a manner so that they are transversely movable
either manually at various intervals of time or by the
livestock as they feed to generally conform with the hay
2~~~~f-~9
-3-
remaining in the feeder. These attempts do improve the
capacity of the feeders. However, such manually
adjusted feeders require repeated supervision and
adjustment by the farmer and frequently result in time
periods in which the live stock are deprived of hay
awaiting adjustment of the side walls. In the prior
transversely moveable side wall feeders in which the
livestock adjust the feeder, the mechanism which mounts
the side walls for transverse or lateral movement is
cumbersome and generally blocks the ends of the feeder
from access by the livestock, thereby preventing feeding
simultaneously through all four walls of the feeder.
The feeder of the present invention overcomes
all of the foregoing disadvantages. In the feeder of
the present invention the volumetric capacity of the
feeder may be readily varied so that the width of the
feeder may be increased to a capacity large enough to
accommodate at least two large round hay bales in side
by side relationship. Yet, the width of the feeder may
be readily decreased to accommodate the configuration of
the hay in the feeder as it is being consumed and to
permit access by the livestock to even the last remnants
of hay in the center of the feeder, and the width may be
readily adjusted to accommodate bales of different
sizes. Moreover, the ends of the side walls of the
preferred feeder of the present invention are capable of
transverse movement independently of each other to
permit the ends of the side walls to move transversely
of the feeder in a manner to vary the shape of the
feeder to closely conform with the shape of the hay
remaining in the feeder even though consumption of the
2~~~~9~
-4-
hay may have occurred at a more rapid rate at one end of
the feeder than at the other. Another advantage of the
preferred feeder of the present invention is that access
to the hay in the feeder by the livestock is possible
not only through the feeder side walls, but also through
the end walls notwithstanding the fact that the end
walls include the mechanism which mounts the side walls
for independent transverse movement.
Another advantage of the present invention is
that the side walls of the feeder may be opened to
permit ready access to the feeder for loading or
unloading of the hay bales and may be selectively opened
at either end of the feeder.
Still another advantage of the present
invention is that the volume of the feeder is
automatically adjusted by the live stock as the
livestock consumes the hay in the feeder.
Still another advantage of the preferred
carrier and feeder of the present invention is that the
feeder is readily capable of transport from one location
to another either with or without bales therein. The
preferred carrier and feeder of the present invention is
capable of an extremely low profile and center of
gravity. This not only presents its baled hay contents
to the livestock at a low and readily accessible
elevation to permit easy access to the contents and
complete consumption thereof, but also substantially
reduces any tendency of the loaded feeder to tip during
transport, particularly in the field in which the
terrain may be uneven. One of the features of the
present invention by which this is made possible is by
the uniquely constructed chassis of the present
-5-
invention which permits the chassis to torsionally flex
during transport through the field to permit it to
accommodate any ruts or other uneven terrain which it
may encounter.
In one principal aspect of the present
invention, a hay bale feeder for livestock includes a
bed for supporting at least one hay bale thereon and a
pair of spaced end walls adjacent opposite ends of the
bed and extending transversely of the bed and upwardly
therefrom to retain the hay of said bale on the bed. A
pair of spaced side walls extend longitudinally of the
bed and upwardly therefrom to also retain the hay on the
bed, the side walls having a length substantially equal
to the spacing between the end walls. Mounting means
mounts the side walls for movement transversely of the
bed between a first position transversely spaced from
the end walls and a second position adjacent the end
walls. The mounting means also permits the movement
between the first and second positions of the side walls
by the livestock as they feed so that the side walls
remain closely adjacent the hay as the hay is consumed
by the livestock. The bed, end walls and side walls
define a container of varying volume for the hay and the
side walls and end walls have openings therein to permit
access to the hay in the container for feeding of the
livestock from the outside of the container and
simultaneously through the side walls and end walls.
In another principal aspect of the present
invention, the mounting means permits movement between
the first and second positions of one end of a given
side wall independent of the other end of the given side
wall.
~~~a~~
-6-
In another principal aspect of the present
invention, the mounting means includes a first tubular
member on each of the end walls extending transversely
of the bed, and second elongate tubular members mounted
to and adjacent each end of the side walls and slidably
extending into the first tubular member to permit
movement of the side walls between the first and second
positions.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the second elongate tubular members
are telescopically received in the first tubular member.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the second elongate tubular members
of one side wall are telescopically received in the
second elongate tubular members of the other side wall.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the mounting means includes means to
permit at least one end of the side walls to move
longitudinally of the bed as the side walls move between
the first and second positions.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the last mentioned means includes
first and second substantially vertical members which
are moveable transversely toward and away from the bed,
the vertical members being spaced from each other by a
distance sufficient to slidably receive one end of the
side walls therebetween.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the last mentioned means also
includes a hinge for mounting the end of the end wall
opposite the slidable end for rotation about a
substantially vertical axis.
~~~a~~
-6-
In another principal aspect of the present
invention, the mounting means includes a first tubular
member on each of the end walls extending transversely
of the bed, and second elongate tubular members mounted
to and adjacent each end of the side walls and slidably
extending into the first tubular member to permit
movement of the side walls between the first and second
positions.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the second elongate tubular members
are telescopically received in the first tubular member.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the second elongate tubular members
of one side wall are telescopically received in the
second elongate tubular members of the other side wall.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the mounting means includes means to
permit at least one end of the side walls to move
longitudinally of the bed as the side walls move between
the first and second positions.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the last mentioned means includes
first and second substantially vertical members which
are moveable transversely toward and away from the bed,
the vertical members being spaced from each other by a
distance sufficient to slidably receive one end of the
side walls therebetween.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the last mentioned means also
includes a hinge for mounting the end of the end wall
opposite the slidable end for rotation about a
substantially vertical axis.
_8_
transversely extending beams. The other of the
longitudinally extending beams has at least one of its
ends spaced from but supported upon one of the
transversely extending beams for movement relative
thereto, whereby when at least one of the wheels
encounters a change of elevation of terrain relative to
the other of the wheels during movement of the chassis,
the chassis twists about an axis which is substantially
parallel to the direction of movement.
1p In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, both ends of the other of the
longitudinally extending beams are spaced from but
supported upon the transversely extending beams for
movement relative thereto.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, pin means adjacent the ends of the
other longitudinally extending beam which loosely pin
the ends to the transversely extending beams.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the longitudinally extending beams
include a longitudinally extending opening therein which
extends over a substantial portion of the length of the
beams.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the opening is a slit in the bottoms
of the beams.
In still another principal aspect of the
present invention, the twisting of the chassis permits
the wheels to remain at a substantially constant
distance beneath the bed when any one of the wheels
encounters a change in elevation in terrain.
2~~~2~~
_g_
These and other objects, features and
advantages of the present invention will be more clearly
understood upon consideration of the detailed
description of the preferred embodiment of the invention
which will be described to follow.
RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the course of this description, reference
will frequently be made to the attached drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a
preferred embodiment of expandable bale carrier and
feeder constructed in accordance with the principles of
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bale carrier and
feeder substantially as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the carrier
and feeder as viewed substantially along line 3-3 of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a broken rear elevation view of a
portion of the mounting assembly for a side wall of the
carrier and feeder, as viewed substantially along line
4-4 of FIG. 3, and showing the side wall mounted for
sliding;
FIG. 5 is a broken front elevation view of a
portion of the mounting assembly for a side wall of the
carrier and feeder, as viewed substantially along line
5-5 of FIG. 3, and showing the side wall hingedly
mounted;
FIG. 6 is a partially cross-sectioned, front
elevation view of the mounting assembly for permitting
transverse movement of the carrier and feeder side walls
2~~0~~
-10-
in their fully extended maximum width position, and as
viewed substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a partially cross-sectioned front
elevation view of the mounting assembly substantially as
shown in FIG. 6, but with the side walls in their fully
contracted minimum width position;
FIG. 8 is a front, partially exploded
perspective view of a preferred embodiment of chassis of
the bale carrier and feeder constructed in accordance
with the principles of the present invention and
demonstrating the ability of the chassis to
independently and freely flex to accommodate uneven
terrain; and
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectioned, partially broken
side elevation view of one of the longitudinally
extending chassis beams, as viewed substantially along
line 9-9 of FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A preferred embodiment of expandable bale
carrier and feeder 10 constructed in accordance with the
principles of the present invention is shown generally
in FIG. 1. The carrier and feeder 10 comprises a
vehicle chassis 12 having a rear axle assembly 14, front
axle assembly 16 and a pair of longitudinally extending
beams 18 and 20 extending between the front and rear
axle assemblies. Both the front and rear axle
assemblies 14 and 16 also include suitable mounts 21 at
their ends, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 8, for mounting
wheels W for rotatably supporting the chassis 12 for
transport. The front axle assembly 16 also includes a
conventional tongue 22 for hitching the chassis to a
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-11-
prime mover, such as a tractor (not shown), to movably
transport the carrier and feeder between different
locations.
A front end wall 24 preferably comprises a
plurality of forwardly extending, and upwardly bent
angled bars or tubes 26 which are spaced from each
other, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The lower ends of the
bars or tubes 26 are stationarily fixed to the
transversely extending beam 28 of the front axle
assembly 16. The respective bars 26 are transversely
spaced from each other by a distance sufficient to
define openings 30 therebetween which are large enough
to permit the livestock to extend their heads from
outside of the feeder through the respective openings 30
and into the feeder for feeding on the hay within the
feeder. The upper ends of the bars or tubes 26 are
stationarily affixed to the inside of a transversely
extending tubular member 32, as by welding. The tubular
member 32 and its particular function in side wall
movement will be described in further detail later.
A rear end wall 34 is also provided at the
rear of the carrier and feeder 10 and is attached to the
transversely extending beam 36 of the rear axle assembly
14. The rear end wall 34 is of substantially identical
construction to the front end wall 24 and, thus, like
elements have been denoted with like reference numerals.
The front and rear end walls 24 and 34 retain the hay
bales B1-B6, as shown in dot and.dash in FIGS. 2-3, on
the carrier and feeder 10 both during feeding by the
livestock, as well as during transport, yet the openings
30 in the end walls permit ready access to the hay bales
therein by the livestock for feeding.
-12-
The preferred bale carrier and feeder of the
present invention also includes a pair of laterally
spaced side walls 38 and 40 which extend longitudinally
of the carrier and feeder 10 as bast seen in FIGS. 1-3,
between the front end wall 24 and rear end wall 34.
Each of the side walls 38 and 40 include a
longitudinally extending upper tubular member 42 and
lower tubular member 44. A plurality of spaced,
generally upwardly extending angled tubes or bars 46 are
rigidly affixed, as by welding, to the upper and lower
tubes or bars 42 and 44, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.
The tubes or bars 46 of the side wall 38 preferably
slant upward toward the front of the feeder, and the
tubes or bars 46 of sidewall 40 preferably slant upward
toward the rear of the feeder. The reason for such
preferred direction of angular slant is that cattle
generally tend to move their heads in a leftward
direction when feeding. Thus, once a livestock has
inserted its head in a opening 48 between adjacent tubes
or bars, it will tend to remain in that position while
feeding, rather than take a bite and withdraw its head.
The latter would tend to deplete the hay within the
feeder faster and waste the hay because the stock would
tend to pull the hay from the feeder and lose it to the
ground before it can be consumed.
A particularly unique feature of the present
invention is the mounting assembly 50 by which the side
walls 38 and 40 are mounted to the end walls 24 and 34.
The construction of the mounting assembly at the rear of
the feeder is substantially identical to the assembly at
the front. Therefore, only the front mounting assembly
50 will be described in detail.
-13-
The preferred mounting assembly 50 includes a
pair of transversely extending tubular members 52 and
54. One of the ends of the tubular member 52 extends
into the tubular member 32 and the tubular member 52
extends outwardly therefrom toward an end of the side
wall 38. One of the ends of the tubular member 54 also
extends into the tubular member 32 and the tubular
member 54 extends outwardly therefrom toward an end of
the other side wall 40. The tubular member 54, as best
seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, also slidingly extends into the
tubular member 52 inside of the tubular member 32.
Thus, the tubular members 52 and 54 are both
telescopically slidable in the tubular member 32, and
tubular member 54 is further telescopically slidable in
tubular member 52.
It is also preferred that a short piece of
approximately one inch of the same tubular material of
which tubular member 52 is formed be rigidly fixed, as
by welding, at the left inside end of the tubular member
32, as best seen in FIG. 6. This short piece forms a
short guide sleeve 56 upon which the tubular member 54
may slide. It will be understood that the relationship
of the tubular members 52 and 54 may be reversed if
desired, i.e. the member 52 may be telescopically
slidable in the member 54.
By way of example, the tubular member 32 may
be formed of a box channel which is 4 x 4 inches square
in cross section, tubular member 52 may be formed of a
channel which is 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches square in cross-
section, and tubular member 54 may be formed of a
channel which is 3 x 3 inches square in cross section.
Each of the tubular members 32, 52 and 54 are preferably
-14-
on the order of about 5 feet long so that the minimum
overall width of the carrier and feeder is about five
feet, and when fully extended, the maximum overall width
is about eleven feet. These maximum and minimum widths
permit the carrier and feeder to accommodate large round
bales of approximately 2,000 pounds each and which are
approximately six feet in diameter and 5 1/2 feet long,
with two bales in side by side relationship.
The foregoing dimensions are given by way of
example only and it will be appreciated that other cross
sectional dimensions and shapes are contemplated by the
present invention, so long as the dimensions and shapes
are compatible with each other to permit the sliding
telescopic movement of the tubular members relative to
each other. For example, the tubular members 32, 52 and
54 may be circular in cross section without departing
from the principles of the invention.
Vertically extending members 58 and 60, as
best seen in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, are rigidly affixed to
the outer end of each of the tubular members 52 and 54.
The vertical members 58 and 60 are preferably of a
length which is approximately equal to the height of the
side walls 38 and 40. Outwardly extending flanges 62
are rigidly affixed to the top and bottom of the
vertical members 58 and 60, as by welding. The flanges
62 have an opening therethrough (not shown) adjacent
their outer ends to receive a vertical rod 64 in spaced
relation to the respective vertical members 58 and 60.
The space 66 between the vertical members 58 and 60 and
the vertical rod 64 is sufficient to slidably
accommodate the adjacent ends of the side walls 38, 40,
~~~w~~
-15-
as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, and fox a reason to be
described to follow.
Each of the rods 64 pre:Eerably includes a
handle 68 adjacent their bottom to permit insertion and
removal of each of the rods into and from the openings
in the flanges 62, and to prevent the rods from falling
through the openings in the bottom flanges. A suitable
chain 70, as shown in FIG. 1, may also be provided to
prevent loss of the rods 64.
Returning to the tubular telescopic portion of
the mounting assembly 50, a limit stop assembly 72 is
preferably provided to limit the movement of the side
walls 38 and 40 to their maximum outer width limit, as
shown in dot and dash in FIG. 2. The limit stop
assembly 72 preferably comprises an elongate
transversely extending rod 74 which carries an
enlargement 76 at its innermost end, such as a short
piece of pipe which is slipped over the end of the rod
74 and welded thereto. The rod 74 is attached at its
other end by way of a pivotal fastener 78 to the inner
face of the vertical members 58, 60. A piece of pipe
similar to the enlargements 76 is welded adjacent the
end of the tubular member 32 to form an abutment 80
which the enlargement 76 will come to rest against to
limit the outward movement of the side walls 38 and 40,
as best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6.
In order to minimize and maximize the extent
of the telescoping movement of the tubular members 32,
52 and 54 relative to each other, at least one of the
sliding tubular members 52 or 54 is preferably
dimensioned to actually slide into one of the vertical
members 58, 60 when the side walls have been moved to
-16-
their minimum width position and closest to each other.
By way of example and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the
tubular member 54 is slightly longer than the tubular
member 52 and it enters an opening 82 cut in the face of
the vertical member 58.
It is also preferred to be able to lock the
tubular members 52 and 54 to prevent the movement of the
side walls 38 and 40 due to road vibration and the like,
particularly during transport of the bale carrier and
feeder, and particularly when it is empty. This can
simply be accomplished by way of a threaded opening 84
through each end of the tubular members 32, as best seen
in FIGS. 6 and 7, and a threaded bolt 86 may be threaded
into the openings, as best seen in FIG. 1, and tightened
to prevent movement of the slidable tubular members
relative to each other.
As previously mentioned, the space 66 between
the vertical members 58, 60 and the vertical rod 64 is
sufficient to slidably receive one end of the slide wall
38, 40. This condition is shown in FIG. 4 in which it
will be seen that the vertical rod 64 acts to restrain
the side wall 40 from falling outwardly from between the
flanges 62 when the rod is in place in the openings in
the upper and lower flanges 62.
The vertical rod 64 may also selectively and
alternatively function in another mode to act as a hinge
pin for hinging an end of the side walls 38, 40. This
hinged condition is best seen in FIG. 5. Each end of
upper and lower longitudinal tubes 42 and 44 of the side
walls 38 and 40 have an opening 88 therethrough, as best
seen in FIG. 2, to accommodate the diameter of the
vertical rods 64. Thereby, when the openings 88 are
-1.,-
positioned so that they coincide with the openings in
the flanges 62 and the rod 64 is inserted through the
openings, the resulting assembly will function as a
hinge in order to permit the rotation of the hinged end
of the side walls about the vertical axis defined by
the vertical rod 64.
As shown in the drawings, the ends of the side
walls 38 and 40 adjacent the rear of the carrier and
feeder 10 are shown rigged in the slide condition in
FIGS. 1-4, and the ends of the side walls 38 and 40
adjacent the front of the carrier and feeder 10 are
shown rigged in the hinge condition in FIGS. 1-3 and
5-7. It will be appreciated that this hinged/slide
relationship can be readily reversed.
The ability to selectively and alternately rig
one end of each of the side walls 38 and 40 in a hinged
condition and the other end in a slide condition is
important among other things, to permit each of the ends
of the side walls 38 and 40 to move independently and
inwardly as the livestock feed and by the force which
the livestock exert as they bear against the side walls
while feeding. Therefore, the side walls will generally
remain in closely following continuing contact with
their adjacent bales as the bales are consumed. Thus,
if one of the bales adjacent an end of the carrier and
feeder 10 is consumed at a faster rate than its
corresponding bale at the other end, the livestock will
automatically cause the end of the side wall to move
inwardly at a faster rate at the end at which
consumption has been greater and as seen in FIG. 2. In
the absence of the ability of one end of the side walls
to slide to assume a non-perpendicular relationship to
-18-
the front or rear end walls 24 or 34, they would have to
move in unison and the livestock might not be able to
continue to reach the hay at the high consumption end
until the degree of consumption catches up at the other
end. Moreover, the hinged/sliding mounts of each of the
side walls permit the carrier and feeder 10 to be
readily loaded and unloaded as will be described in
detail later.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a small wheeled
support 90 may also be provided for supporting the free
end of a side wall 38 or 40 when it is swung into an
opened position for loading and unloading the carrier
and feeder 10. The wheeled support 90 preferably
includes a small wheel 92 which is mounted for rotation
on a support post 94. The end of the support post 94
opposite the wheel is preferably dimensioned to fit into
an upper end of one of the end wall vertical tubes 26
for storage during transport and field feeding as shown
in FIG. 1. When it is desired to load or unload the
bale carrier and feeder 10, the wheeled support 90 is
removed from its stored condition and inserted into the
opening 88 in the lower tube 44 on the non-hinged opened
end of the side wall 38 or 40 which is swung open, as
depicted in dot and dash in FIG. 2.
A tongue latching assembly 96 is also
preferably provided on the top of and intermediate the
length of the towing tongue 22 to permit the tongue to
be latched in a vertical position and out of the way of
the feeding livestock when the feeder and carrier has
been positioned in the field for feeding. As shown in
FIGS. 1-3 and 8, the tongue latching assembly 96
preferably comprises a pair of upstanding flanges 98
-19-
which are positioned on the top of the tongue 22, and
which are spaced from each other by a sufficient
distance to receive one of the vertical tubes 26 of the
front end walls 24 therebetween. A removable pin 100
extends between the flanges 98. Thus, when the carrier
and feeder 10 has been positioned in the field for
feeding, the tongue 22 may be elevated until the flanges
98 straddle one of the vertical tubes 26 of the front
end wall 24, and the pin 100 reinserted to lock the
tongue 22 in a substantially vertical position and out
of the way of the livestock, as shown in dot and dash in
FIG. 3.
An important feature of the present invention
also resides in the construction of the chassis 12 which
permits the chassis to readily transit fields of
relatively uneven terrain, and yet freely flex or twist
to conform with the terrain without tipping. Moreover,
the ability of the chassis 12 to flex as will be
described also makes possible the substantial lowering
of the center of gravity of the chassis. This chassis
flexing or twisting ability together with its ability to
permit the lowering of the center of gravity of the
carrier and feeder 10 is significant when it is
considered that the preferred bale carrier and feeder of
the invention is capable of transporting up to six round
hay bales which may each weight upwards of 2,000 pounds
each and with pairs of such bales in side by side
relationship and substantially overhanging the sides of
the chassis. Absent the ability of the chassis to flex
or and/or the substantially low center of gravity, there
would be a tendency of the loaded bale carrier and
~,~~o~~~
-20-
feeder to tip over during transport to and into the
f field.
This flexing or twisting of the chassis 12 is
achieved by the longitudinal beams 18 and 20 of the
present invention which are uniquely configured and
mounted with respect to the transverse axle beams 28 and
36 of the rear and front axle assemblies 14 and 16.
In the first instance each of the longitudinal
chassis beams 18 and 20 is preferably of rectangular
cross-section, for example about 4 inches wide by 6
inches deep, and is box shaped. Although box beams are
shown, it will be appreciated that the longitudinal
beams 18 and 20 may have a different cross-section, e.g.
circular or oval in cross-section. The underside of
each of the longitudinal beams 18 and 20 preferably
includes a slit 102, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
intermediate the length of the beams. This slit 102
preferably extends over a portion of the length of each
of the beams which is a little greater then half the
length of each beam. For example, a slit 102 of
approximately 9 feet in length has been found to be
satisfactory for a total beam length of about 17 feet.
The slit 102 preferably does not extend the full length
of its beam to reduce the possibility that the beam
dimensions may spread as they torque. Yet the slits 102
facilitate the twisting and flexing of the longitudinal
beams 18 and 20 and the chassis.
Longitudinal beam 20 is preferably rigidly
affixed between the transverse axle beams 28 and 36, as
shown in FIG. 8., such as by welding. In addition,
diagonal bracing beams 104 are also shown which are
rigidly affixed, such as by welding, between the inside
-21-
of the front axle beam 28 and rear axle beam 38,
respectively, and intermediate the length of the
longitudinal beam 20 as shown in FIG. 8. The diagonal
bracing beams 104 assure that the chassis 12 is main-
s tained in a substantially rectangular configuration at
all times.
The longitudinal beam 18 is also preferably a
box beam of substantially rectangular cross-section, and
also includes a longitudinally extending slot 102 in its
bottom face, as shown in FIG. 9, which extends over a
length which preferably is somewhat greater than half
the length of beam 18, but short of its overall length
for the reasons previously stated. Unlike the
longitudinal beam 20, longitudinal beam 18, as shown, is
not rigidly affixed either to the front axle beam 28 or
the rear axle beam 36. Instead, in the preferred
chassis embodiment its length is slightly shorter than
the distance between the transversely extending axle
beams by on the order of 1/2 inch or so. This results
in a space 106 between at least one and preferably both
of its ends, as shown in FIG. 9. This space 106 permits
the front axle beam 28 and/or rear axle beam 36 and the
longitudinal beam 18 to flex independently of each other
as represented by the dot and dash lines for the beam
ends 108, as shown in FIG. 9. This permits the entire
chassis 12 to flex and twist generally about an axis
which is parallel to the direction of movement of the
carrier and feeder 10 when, for example, one of the
wheels W, as shown in FIG. 8, encounters a rise R in the
terrain.
In the preferred embodiment of chassis of the
present invention, the longitudinal beam 18 is supported
-22-
at its ends upon the front axle beam 28 and rear axle
beam 36 by a short section of rectangular box beam stub
110 which overlies the top of the longitudinal beam 18
and is rigidly affixed thereto, as by welding. As can
be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the outward ends of the beam
stubs 110 extend into overlying relationship and are
supported upon the top of the front axle beam 28 and
rear axle beam 36. The beam stubs 110 together with the
longitudinal beam 18 are coupled to the front and rear
axle beams by a plate 112 which is welded over the open
ends of the beam stubs 110 and extends vertically
downwardly over the front and rear faces, respectively,
of the front axle beam 28 and rear axle beam 36, as
shown in FIG. 9. A threaded opening is provided
adjacent the lower end of each plate 112 to threadedly
receive a threaded bolt or pin 114 therein. The inner
end of the threaded bolt or pin 114 extends loosely into
a somewhat enlarged opening 116 in the front axle beam
28 and rear axle beam 36. Thus, the longitudinal beam
18 is supported for relatively unrestrained movement
relative to the front and rear axle beams, but is held
in its supported relationship thereon by the pin
assembly just described.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that
the ability of the chassis 12 to flex or twist
eliminates the need to provide conventional rocking
bolsters or oscillating axle assemblies to mount the
wheels W to the chassis to compensate for or accommodate
for uneven terrain. Such conventional assemblies would
permit the wheels W to move up and down relative to the
bottom of the bales which are being transported when one
or more of the wheels encounters a rise or depression in
-23-
the terrain. If such relative movement existed, it
would be necessary to raise the bottom of the bales to
accommodate this wheel motion in order to prevent the
wheels from striking the bale bottoms or supports for
the bales. This would result in an attendant
undesirable raising of the center of gravity of the
load. However, the ability of the chassis 12 of the
present invention to itself flex or twist will insure
that the relative distance between the tops of the
wheels W and the bale bottoms will remain substantially
constant at all times no matter what irregularities in
terrain are encountered. For example, this distance may
be on the order of a mere two inches. Thus, the center
of gravity of the load may be advantageously lowered to
the maximum extent possible. The center of gravity may
even be lowered further by utilizing wheels W of minimum
diameter, e.g. on the order of 12 inches.
As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 8, a pair of end
bale support cradle assemblies 118 and one or more
intermediate bale support cradle assemblies 120 are
preferably provided on the chassis 12 to form a bed 121
on the carrier and feeder 10 to support the bales
thereon.
Each of the end cradle assemblies 118
preferably comprises a pair of spaced support rails 122
which extend transversely of the chassis 12. The
support rails 122 are affixed adjacent each of their
ends to the top of a downwardly extending U-shaped
channel 124, as by welding. As shown in FIG 2, the
support rails 122 also preferably include an opening or
slit 125 in their bottoms which extends longitudinally
of the rails between the U-shaped channels 124 to
~v~~~~
-24-
accommodate the flexing of the chassis 12 when one of
the wheels encounters a change in elevation in the
terrain. The downwardly extending legs of the U-shaped
channels 124 are of sufficient length to straddle both
the height of each of the box beam stubs 110 and at
least a portion of the height of the longitudinal beams
18 or 20, as best seen in FIG. 3. A set screw 126 is
provided which is received in an opening 128 on the
inner leg of each of the U-shaped channels 124, as best
seen in FIG. 8, to permit attachment, longitudinal
adjustment and removal of the end cradle assemblies 118.
In order to present an identical support
configuration to receive the U-shaped channels 124 at
the stationary fixed longitudinal beam 20, beam stubs
110 are also provided at the ends of that beam as at the
ends of the beam 18, although those beam stubs are not
necessary to support the beam 20. One such beam stub
110 is shown at the end of longitudinal beam 20 in FIG.
1.
The intermediate cradle assemblies 120 also
preferably comprise a pair of spaced support rails 130
which extend transversely across the width of the
chassis 12. As in the end cradle assemblies 118,
support rails 130 are also rigidly affixed, as by
welding, to the upper side of a pair of spaced U-shaped
channels 132 which, in turn, straddle the longitudinal
beams 18 or 20 at a point intermediate the length of the
longitudinal beams. As shown in.FIG. 2, the bottoms of
the support rails 130 also preferably include an opening
or slit 134 over their lengths between the U-shaped
channels 132 to facilitate twisting as previously
described with respect to slits 125. The legs of the U-
i~~~?~
-25-
shaped channels 132 are somewhat shorter in height than
those of the U-shaped channels 124 because they are
supported directly upon the upper surface of the longi-
tudinal beams 18 and 20. The U-shaped channels 132 also
preferably include a set screw 126 and opening 128 on
the inner side of the channels, as best seen in FIG. 8,
to permit their attachment to, removal from and
longitudinal slidable adjustment along the longitudinal
beams 18 and 20. Thus, both the end bale support cradle
assemblies 118 and the intermediate bale support cradle
assemblies 120 may be slidably adjusted and/or added or
removed as needed to support hay bales of differing
diameter or of greater or fewer numbers.
It is also preferred that the support rails
~ 130 of the intermediate cradle assemblies 120 be
slightly indented in their centers, as best seen in FIG.
1, so that their ends may be elevated somewhat to be
more in line with the elevation of the support rails 122
of the end cradle assemblies 118. This results in a
slight elevation of the outside of the center bales B2
and B5 so that their elevation visually conforms with
the end bales B1, B3, B4 and B6.
The end cradle assemblies 118 and intermediate
cradle assemblies 120 facilitate the support of the
bales at their lowest possible center of gravity. As
previously mentioned, the distance between the underside
of the support rails 122 of the end cradle assemblies
118 and the top of the wheels W need only be on the
order of two inches because that distance remains
relatively constant when uneven terrain is encountered
during transport.
-26-
Although it is believed from the foregoing
description of the preferred embodiment of the invention
that the operation of the bale carrier and feeder will
be clear, a brief description thereof follows.
_Description of Operation
In order to load the empty bale carrier and
feeder with the maximum load, the side walls 38 and 40
are moved to their maximum width outward position as
shown in solid in FIGS. 1 and 2. This is accomplished
by slidably moving the tubular members 52 and 54 out of
the tubular member 32. As the tubular members 52 and 54
move outwardly, the rods 74 of the limit stop assemblies
72 will slide in the abutments 80 until the enlargements
76 at the end of the rods come to rest against the
abutments 80 to prevent the tubular members 52 and 54
from being pulled entirely out of the tubular member 32.
The positioning of the tubular members 32, 52 and 54 in
this maximum width position is shown in detail in FIG.
6. In this position the maximum width is preferably
about eleven feet which will permit the bale carrier and
feeder 10 to accommodate a pair of large round hay bales
which are about 5 1/2 feet long in side by side
relationship on the bed 121.
Also as previously mentioned, the vertical
rods 64 which are associated with the vertical members
58 and 60 may alternatively function in one of two
conditions. In one condition an.end of the side walls
38, 40 may be slidably positioned in the space 66
between the vertical rod 64 and the vertical members 58,
60. In the other condition the vertical rod 64 may be
positioned to function as a hinge pin when it is
~~~~'~~~~~
-27-
extended through the openings 88 i:n the ends of the
upper and lower tubes 42 and 44 of the side walls 38 and
40. In preferred practice, one end of each side wall,
for example the front end as shown in the drawings, will
be mounted to function as a hinge, and the other end,
for example the rear end of the side walls as shown in
the drawings, will be mounted to function in the slide
mode. It will be understood that these functions may be
readily reversed, i.e with the hinge at the rear and the
slide at the front for either or both of the side walls.
To load the bale carrier and feeder of the
invention, all that need be done is to lift the vertical
rod 64 manually with its handle 68 and remove it from
the openings through the flanges 62 at the end of a side
wall which has been rigged in the slide mode. Once the
vertical rod is removed, that side wall, for example
side wall 40 as shown in FIG. 2, may be swung outwardly
about the hinged mounting at the other end, as shown in
dot and dash in FIG. 2. This will open one side of the
container to permit ready loading of that side with
large round hay bales B4, B5 and B6, as shown in dot and
dash in FIG. 2. Ease of loading is facilitated by the
low center of gravity of the chassis 12. Once loading
is complete on one side, the side wall 40 is swung to
its closed position and the vertical rod 64 is
reinserted in the openings in flanges 62 with the end of
the side wall 40 slidably repositioned in the space 66
between the rod 64 and the vertical member 60 as shown
in FIG. 4.
When the side wall 40 is swung to its open
position as shown in dot and dash in FIG. 2, the wheeled
support 90 may be removed from its stored position as
2~~~~~~
-28-
shown in FIG. 1, tipped over and installed beneath the
open end of the side wall to support it, as shown in dot
and dash in FIG. 2.
This procedure is again repeated on the other
side of the carrier and feeder to load the other side
with the large round hay bales B1, B2 and B3. Once the
other side is loaded, the carrier and feeder will be
loaded to its maximum capacity with pairs of large round.
bales in transverse side by side relationship.
At this point the loaded carrier and feeder 10
may be transported to the field in which the livestock
are to feed and left there for the feeding to take
place. The livestock will be able to feed from all
sides of the carrier and feeder container by inserting
their heads through the openings 48 in the side walls 38
and 40 and through the openings 30 in the front end wall
24 and rear end wall 34. At this time the tongue 22 is
also preferably raised to the vertical, as shown in dot
and dash in FIG. 3, and held in that position by the
latching assembly 96. This prevents the tongue 22 from
being contaminated by the livestock during feeding and
the livestock from tripping over the tongue.
During transport to the field, the chassis 12
of the low center of gravity carrier and feeder 10 is
capable of substantial flexing and twisting generally
about a longitudinal axis in the direction of movement
in the event that the individual wheels W encounter
terrain of differing elevation as previously described.
This substantially reduces the possibility that the
carrier and feeder will tip over during transport,
particularly in view of the substantial load that it is
transporting.
2~8~~~
-29-
After placement in the field, the force of the
livestock leaning against the side walls 38 and 40 as
they feed and reach for more hay will cause the side
walls to automatically move inwardly toward the ends of
the end walls 24 and 34 as the hay is consumed. This is
facilitated by the tubular member 54 telescopically and
progressively sliding into the tubular member 52, and
both tubular members telescopically and progressively
sliding into the tubular member 32, as best seen in
FIGS. 6 and 7. Moreover, each end of the side walls 38
and 40 is capable of such movement independently of the
other end of the same side wall. This is due to the
fact that one end of a given side wall is mounted to
function as a hinge and rotate about a vertical axis
defined by the vertical rod 64, while the other end is
able to longitudinally slide between its vertical member
58, 60 and the vertical rod 64. This arrangement
thereby compensates for the effective variations in the
length of the side wall which will occur when the rate
of consumption of the hay is greater at one end of the
carrier and feeder than at the other end. This
condition is shown in dot and dash in FIG. 2 in which
side wall 40 is shown being moved inwardly at a greater
rate at the rear of the container than at the front.
As feeding continues, the side walls 38 and 40
will finally both move to their inner minimum width
position as shown in dot and dash in FIGS. 1 and 2. In
this position the tubular members 52 and 54 have
telescopically completely slid into each other, as shown
in FIG. 7, and the end of tubular member 54 has moved
into the opening 82 and is positioned within the
vertical member 58. In this condition the width of the
-30-
carrier and feeder is preferably on the order of about
five feet which permits feeding to continue until all of
the hay has been consumed. Such width permits the
livestock to reach the center of the container from both
sides.
Once all of the hay has been consumed, the
side walls 38 and 40 may be locked in their minimum
width position, the position shown in dot and dash in
FIGS. 1 and 2, by the bolts 86 which are tightened in
the holes 84 to keep the side walls from vibrating out
of position during transport. The carrier and feeder
now may be transported from the field back to a location
for reloading. In the alternative, it may be reloaded
directly in the field.
Although the carrier and feeder 10 has been
described for use with round bales of hay, it will be
appreciated that it may be used with equal facility with
hay bales of other shapes, such as rectangular bales,
and with unbaled hay.
It also will be understood that the preferred
embodiment of the present invention which has been
described is merely illustrative of the principles of
the present invention. Numerous modifications may be
made by those skilled in the art without departing from
the true spirit and scope of the invention.
