IES80536B2 - A bale handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

A bale handling device (1) having a frame (2), bale engaging means (3,4) mounted on the frame and means for elevating the bale engaging means (3,4) independently of the frame (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a bale handling device of the type for attachment to the three-point linkage of an agricultural tractor and used to lift and carry bales of fodder in particular round bales of fodder.

Background to the Invention Bale spikes are known which are fitted to the three point linkage of an agricultural tractor. Such bale spikes usually consist of a rigid frame which has brackets which are suitable for mounting the frame On the three point linkage of an agricultural tractor. From the rigid frame and extending rearwardly away from the tractor is mounted a spike or spikes on the frame. Such spikes are useful for carrying round bales for example from a storage area to a feeding area. - 2 However the known bale spikes have a number of perceived disadvantages. Firstly the bale spikes are limited to the height to which they can be raised from the ground by the maximum height of the three point linkage of the tractor, The maximum height is generally quite low and in particular as the spike or spikes are forced through the centre of the bale the clearance of the bottom of the bale from the ground when the three point linkage is in its fully elevated position may be quite low. Furthermore when the three point linkage is in its fully raised position the bale is usually held at an angle to the horizontal. This is a disadvantage if it is required to set down the bale on an elevated surface. Typically the heights to which the three point linkage of a tractor can raise a round bale mounted on such a bale spike, is not sufficient for the purposes of stacking one bale on top of another i.e. a bale held on the spike is not capable of being lifted a distance from the ground greater than its own height.

The same disadvantages apply to other types of bale handling devices which when fitted to a three point linkage of an agricultural tractor suffer from the same limitations in height. Such handling devices include those of the type having two extending (usually) tubular members attached to a frame. The tubular members are less than the diameter of the bale apart but are spaced sufficiently apart to be located one either side of that part of a round bale which sits on the ground. These handling devices are commonly referred to as bale-lifts. Such handling devices are well known in particular for the moving of round bales which have been wrapped.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a bale handling device which can lift a bale to higher elevations than was previously possible and to maintain the elevated bale in a substantially horizontal position.

Summary of the Invention The invention provides a bale handling device comprising : - 3 a frame, a bale engaging means mounted on the frame, characterised in that the bale handling device further comprises 5 means for elevating the bale engaging means independently of the frame.

Suitably the frame comprises a plurality of frame members and the bale engaging means is mounted on a frame member, the frame member on which the bale engaging means being mounted on one of the said frame members and the frame member being displacable relative to the frame.

In a preferred embodiment the frame comprises a sleeve and the frame member on which the bale engaging means is mounted is displacable within the sleeve. In a preferred arrangement the frame member on which the bale engaging means is mounted is slidably inserted in a sleeve formed by an upright member of the frame, the upright member preferably comprising two opposed spaced apart members defining a channel along which, in use, the bale engaging means is moveable. In the most preferred embodiment the frame member on which the bale engaging means is mounted is displaced relative to the frame by means of a hydraulic ram. Suitably the sleeve comprises two spaced apart opposed square C-shaped members defining a channel. This allows the bale handling means to move without obstruction between the members.

Suitably the bale engaging means comprises at least one spike, or a grab, or a bale lift.

In a more preferred embodiment the frame is provided with a skid which extends beneath the frame when the frame is in its operational position, so that, in use the skid abuts the ground and holds the frame a distance apart from the ground. Where the bale engaging means is a spike this allows the correct height of the spike to be easily attained as the bale handling device may be simply lowered until the skid rests on the ground. Otherwise the correct height of the bale spike for penetration into a bale must be determined by control of the three point linkage of the agricultural tractor to which it is fitted. In a preferred arrangement the skid is height adjustable. Suitably two skids are provided one either side of the frame. Where the bale handling means is other than a spike the skids may be used to prevent the frame contacting the ground. - 4 In an alternative embodiment the bale handling device further comprises a stop so that in use a bale mounted on the device abuts the stop. Suitably the stop and skid are formed on one member.

In a preferred arrangement the bale engaging means comprises an upper spike and a lower spike located substantially in the same vertical plane. Suitably the lower spike is shorter than the upper spike. The dual spike arrangement allows for better retention of the bale on the bale spike, and prevents rotational movement of the bale about the spikes.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment A more detailed description of the device of the invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

The bale handling device shown in the drawings is a bale spike 1 which comprises a frame 2 an upper spike 3 and a lower spike 4. The upper spike 3 and the lower spike 4 comprise the bale engaging means. The frame 2 has three brackets, two brackets 5,6 for receiving the respective hydraulically operated arms 7,8 of the three point linkage of an agricultural tractor (not shown in Figure 1) and a third bracket 9 for receiving a top linkage 10, and completing the three point linkage system.

The frame 2 has a heavy duty transverse member 11 on which brackets 5 and 6 are mounted. An upright member 12 is welded to transverse member 11, perpendicular to the transverse member 11. Two diagonal supporting members 13,14 are attached between upright member 12 and transverse member 11 providing a strong structure for frame 2. Bracket 9 is attached to upright member 12.

The spikes 3,4 are both attached to a frame member 15. Upright member 12 defines a channel and provides a sleeve within which frame member 15 is located. The frame member 15 is slidable within upright member 12. Upright member 12 comprises two opposing spaced apart square C-shaped channel members 16,17. The space provided between - 5 C-shaped members 16 and 17 provides a channel on both sides of the frame 2 within which spikes 3 and 4 can move without interference. On the opposite side of the channel the nuts 18 which hold spikes 3 and 4 in place on the frame member 15 without obstruction within the channel.

A hydraulic ram 19 is fixed to transverse member 11 by bracket 20 at its lower end. At its upper end the hydraulic ram 19 is attached to frame member 15 by plate 21. The hydraulic ram 19 is shown in Figure 1 in its partially extended configuration. In this configuration a lower end 22 of the frame member 15 is spaced apart from the transverse member 11. In particular in the fully retracted position the lower end 22 of the frame member 15 may rest on the upper surface of transverse member 11 between the two C-shaped members 16 and 17. The hydraulic ram 19 is located on a side of the frame 2 opposite the spikes 3,4. In particular as shown in Figure 1 the bracket 9 for the top linkage may be provided in two opposing parts so that the hydraulic ram 19 extends between the opposing parts of it, without interfering with the top linkage 10.

The hydraulic ram 19 is actuated by hydraulic fluid from an agricultural tractor (not shown in Figure 1) pumped through hydraulic line 23. The hydraulic ram 19 can be used to position frame member 15 and thus spikes 3 and 4 at the desired height.

The frame 2 is provided with stops or skids 24, 25, one located on each end of transverse member 11 and facing in the same direction as the spikes 3,4. The skids or stops 24,25 have portions 26 and 27 respectively which extend beneath the frame 2. In use the portions 26,27 hold the frame 2 above the ground surface when the three point linkage of the tractor is in its fully lowered position.

In an alternative arrangement the spikes 3,4 may be replaced by other known devices for handling bales such as the two extending members of a bale lift as described above. The extending members are attached to the frame member 15 in a similar manner to that described for the bale spikes 3,4 above which would allow the bale lift to be operated in a manner similar to that described for the bale spike 1.

In the fully lowered position of the three point linkage the extending members rest on the ground. - 6 The operation of the bale spike 1 will now be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4.

With reference to Figure 2 the bale spike 1 is shown fitted to an agricultural tractor 28. A bale 29 has been impaled on spikes 3 and 4 by using the agricultural tractor 28 to force the spikes 3 and 4 into the bale 29. The bale 29 is resting on the ground surface 30. The stops or skids 24,25 (only stop 25 can be seen from the perspective of Figure 2) have two functions in the mounting of the bale 29 on the bale spike 1. Firstly they provide a skid mechanism as they both abut the ground when the bale spike 1 is in its fully lowered position on the three point linkage of the tractor 28. The bale spike 1 is thus held a distance above the ground surface 30. The skids or stops 24,25 may be height adjustable and in particular are designed so that in the fully lowered position of the bale spike 1 the upper spike 3 and lower spike 4 enter the bale at the respective desired positions. In particular spike 3 enters close to the centre of the bale while lower spike 4 enters closer to the base of the bale. Lower spike 4 is shorter than upper spike 3.

Secondly the skids or stops 24,25 also provide a surface against which the bale abuts when impaled on spikes 3 and 4. The skids or stops 24,25 can thus be used to control the depth of penetration of the spikes 3 and 4 into the bale 9 and if desired they can retain the bale 29 a distance apart from the upright member 12. This can help prevent fodder from the bale 29 from getting caught in the elevating mechanism. With reference to Figure 3 and bale 29 has now been lifted clear of the ground 30 by the three point linkage of the tractor 28.

For conventional spikes the maximum height to which the bale may be raised depends on the maximum height to which the three point linkage of the agricultural tractor can be raised, and Figure 3 shows how even at maximum or near maximum elevation of the three-point linkage the bale is still relatively close to the ground.

With reference to Figure 4 the bale has been further raised by actuating the hydraulic ram 19. Hydraulic fluid has been pumped by tractor 28 into hydraulic ram through line 23 (not shown in Figure 4) thus extending the hydraulic cylinder 19 in the conventional manner and as described previously raising the spikes 3,4 and thus the bale 29. - 7 The bale 29 is lifted to a height far exceeding that which is possible with conventional bale spikes. The spikes 3,4 are thus elevated independently of the frame 2. With the hydraulic ram arrangement the spikes 3,4 can be held at any convenient height between the maximum elevated position and the lowered position. A height limiting plate 31 may be fitted to the upright member 12 to limit the height to which the spikes 3 and 4 may be raised. The lifting action provided by the hydraulic ram 19 is purely in a vertical direction helping to maintain the bale 29 in a substantially horizontal position. Elevation using the three point linkage causes a degree of rotation from the horizontal. It will be appreciated that the height at which the frame 2 is held can remain constant by setting the height of the three point linkage while all elevation could be effected by the hydraulic ram 19.

Operation of the bale handling device where the bale engaging means is a bale lift or other such device would take place in a similar manner. Where the device is a bale lift it may be positioned underneath a bale in the conventional manner by an agricultural tractor.

Claims (5)

1. A bale handling device (1) comprising : a frame (2); bale engaging means (3,4) mounted on the frame characterised in that the bale handling device (1) further comprises means for elevating the bale engaging means (3,4) independently of the frame (2).

2. A bale handling device (1) according to claim 1 where the frame (2) comprises a plurality of frame members (11-15), the bale engaging means (3,4) being mounted on one of the said frame members (15) and the frame member (15) being displacable relative to the frame.

3. A bale handling device (1) according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the frame member (15), on which the bale engaging means (3,4) is mounted, is slidably inserted in a sleeve formed by an upright member (12) of the frame, the upright member (12) preferably comprising two opposed spaced apart members (16,17) defining a channel along which, in use, the bale engaging means is moveable.

4. A bale handling device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising a skid (24,25) to hold the frame (2) spaced apart from the ground when the bale handling device (1) is in its fully lowered position.

5. A bale handling device (1) substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.