Material or article handling – Round hay bale handling
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-23
2002-11-12
Krizek, Janice L. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Round hay bale handling
C298S018000, C414S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06478522
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bale handling apparatus. In particular, the bale handling apparatus is adapted to receive, carry and unload large round bales of hay.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the agricultural industry, there is need for means of transporting hay bales from site to site. A popular bale configuration is the large round bale which is cylindrical. A typical round bale may be 5 feet in length, 6 feet in diameter and weigh in excess of 1200 pounds. Such bales are typically transported on flat bed trailers in two rows of bales, side by side. Often, it is attempted to transport additional bales by placing a third or fourth row of bales on top of the bottom two rows and securing the bales by straps over top of the stacked bales. Often the straps become loose or break, resulting in the bales being lost, possibly with disastrous consequences for any following or oncoming vehicle.
There have been many attempts in the prior art to create a bale handling apparatus which may carry multiple bales. Some apparatuses allow for the stacking of bales. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,477 (Druse Sr.) discloses a bale carrier which provides means for carrying a third row of bales on top of and between the lower two rows. A push-off arm is mounted to a vertical hydraulic cylinder to unload the third row. However, neither the bottom two rows nor the third row of bales is secured. As well, the third row of bales rests in the valley between the two bottom rows, where the weight of the third row of bales tends to push the bottom two rows apart or outward, which may create unstable conditions during transport.
It would be advantageous to have an apparatus which could transport multiple rows of bales without the need for straps or the fear of the bales breaking loose. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an apparatus which permits the carriage of four rows of round bales in a secure manner and which provides for convenient loading and unloading of such bales.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises a bale handling apparatus which is adapted to receive, carry and unload large round hay bales. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises:
(a) a wheeled vehicle or trailer having an elongate structural frame which includes an upright support frame;
(b) a pair of elongate side-by-side lower bale cradles, each of which is pivotably mounted to the vehicle, trailer or frame and moveable between a first bale retaining position and a second bale ejection position;
(c) a pair of elongate side-by-side upper bale cradles, each of which is pivotably mounted to the upright support frame and moveable between a first bale retaining position and a second bale ejection position;
(d) actuation means for moving the lower bale cradle between its first and second positions; and
(e) actuation means for moving the upper bale cradle between its first and second positions.
Each upper bale cradle may be positioned above a lower bale cradle such that when a bale is positioned within the lower bale cradle, the upper bale cradle may be pivotally moved to a third position where the upper bale cradle rests on or clamps down onto the bale positioned within the lower bale cradle. Each upper bale cradle may comprise means for physically retaining a bale positioned in a lower bale cradle. The retention means may comprise a longitudinal bar which is attached to the underside of the upper bale cradle.
In one embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise means for retaining a bale positioned in the upper cradles. The upper bale retention means may comprise a plurality of prongs attached to the upright support frame which engage bales positioned in an upper bale cradle. The prongs may be mounted mounted to a pair of pivoting assemblies each comprising an elongate bar rotatably mounted to the upright support frame such that the assembly is pivotable between a first open position and a second bale retaining position; and actuating means for moving the elongate bars to and between their first and second positions.
In one embodiment, each lower bale cradle may comprise a longitudinal central support beam which is pivotally attached to the frame, an inner edge beam and an outer edge beam, a plurality of inner cross-members which attach the inner edge beam to the central support beam and a plurality of outer cross-members which attach the outer edge beam to the central support beam, wherein the inner cross members are longer than the outer cross-members.
In one embodiment, the upper cradle actuation means comprises a hydraulic cylinder having one end attached to the frame and one end attached to the upper cradle such that extension of the hydraulic cylinder raises the upper cradle to its first position and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder lowers the upper cradle to its second position. The lower cradle actuation means may comprise a hydraulic cylinder having one end secured to the frame and one end attached, directly or indirectly, to the lower cradle such that extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder causes the lower cradle to move between its first and second positions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3876098 (1975-04-01), Cawrse et al.
patent: 3922036 (1975-11-01), Kalsbeck et al.
patent: 4500242 (1985-02-01), Beikman
patent: 4580843 (1986-04-01), Lund
patent: 4930958 (1990-06-01), Palmer
patent: 5018924 (1991-05-01), Palmer
patent: 5076752 (1991-12-01), Rader
patent: 5123800 (1992-06-01), Druse, Sr.
patent: 5180271 (1993-01-01), Farden
patent: 5277537 (1994-01-01), Druse, Sr.
patent: 5320477 (1994-06-01), Druse, Sr.
patent: 5340259 (1994-08-01), Flaskey
patent: 6079926 (2000-06-01), Cox et al.
patent: 1211739 (1986-09-01), None
patent: 23 49 779 (1975-04-01), None
patent: 2 496 397 (1982-06-01), None
patent: 1250207 (1986-08-01), None
Bennett Jones LLP
Krizek Janice L.
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