Material or article handling – Round hay bale handling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-12
2001-01-30
Krizek, Janice L. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Round hay bale handling
C414S459000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179540
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a trailer for lifting and transporting hay bales, and more particularly to a trailer apparatus for lifting and transporting large, round hay bales.
It is common practice for hay to be collected and baled into large, round hay bales. Such round hay bales are typically very heavy and may be approximately five to six feet in diameter and from five to six feet long. Each hay bale weighs several hundred pounds. Round hay bales are generally collected in the field and are stored at one or more specific locations from which they can then be moved for feeding purposes. There are a number of ways in which the round hay bales are lifted from the ground and transported. The most common way is to use a hay wagon which can carry more than one round hay bale. The bales are typically placed on such hay wagons by utilizing a tractor or other vehicle which has a forklift-type device to spear and lift the round bales of hay and place them on the hay wagon. Although such an arrangement works effectively, it typically takes one person to operate the machine which lifts the hay bales and one person to operate the vehicle towing the hay wagon. If only one person performs both operations, it is time-consuming and inefficient.
There are a number of other apparatus that can be utilized to lift and transport hay bales such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,241 to Parker et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,790 to Baxter et al. The Parker et al. patent discloses an agricultural vehicle for transporting round hay bales which utilizes extensible members
32
which cause bale lifting and supporting member arms
22
to rotate inwardly to engage and lift a round hay bale. Although such an arrangement works well, there is a need for improved lifting and transporting apparatus.
Oftentimes round hay bales are left in the field for a long period of time prior to being lifted and/or transported. The portion of the hay in contact with the ground can become loose. Utilizing an apparatus like that shown in the Parker et al. patent can sometimes cause the hay to be lost since as the lifting arms move inwardly and upwardly, a pinching of the hay bale will occur which may cause the loose hay that has been in contact with the ground surface to fall away from the round bale. Thus, there is a need for a lifting and transporting apparatus that will engage and lift round hay bales that will not squeeze the hay bale in such a way as to cause a portion of the hay bale to be lost or left on the ground. The present invention engages and lifts round hay bales in such a way as to prevent the pinching and/or squeezing of the hay bale and will thus effectively lift round hay bales from the ground and will minimize the amount of hay that is pinched and/or left on the ground.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus for lifting and transporting round hay bales. The apparatus includes a wheeled support frame so that it may be towed by a towing vehicle. The support frame has first and second spaced-apart support members and may include a cross member connected at the ends thereof to the first and second support members. The cross member is preferably an arcuately shaped cross member which extends upwardly and inwardly from the first and second support members to provide clearance between the cross member and the bales to be carried by the apparatus. A plurality of first lifting arms are pivotally connected to and depend from the first support member. A plurality of second lifting arms are pivotally connected to and depend from the second support member. First and second lifting beams are connected to the first and second lifting arms respectively.
The apparatus includes an actuation means which may comprise hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic cylinders are movable from a non-extended position to an extended position. When the hydraulic cylinders are in the non-extended position, the apparatus is in an open position wherein it may be moved so that a hay bale can be positioned between the first and second support members and the first and second lifting beams. The second ends of the hydraulic cylinders are operatively associated with the lifting arms such that when the cylinders are actuated to move from the non-extended to the extended position, it causes the lifting arms to pivot so that the first and second lifting beams move upwardly and inwardly to engage a hay bale positioned therebetween. The lifting beams will engage and lift the hay bale such that sufficient clearance is provided to allow the trailer apparatus to transport the hay bale.
At least one, and preferably both of the first and second lifting beams have a rollable outer surface such that when the first and second beams are in moving engagement with the hay bale being lifted, the surface of the beams will roll and thus the beams will not pinch the hay bale. In other words, the first and second lifting beams will not squeeze the hay bale and cause hay to be dropped or lost. Thus, the present invention provides many advantages over prior art bale transportation equipment in that it is less time consuming and more efficient, and that it captures the hay bale in such a way as to minimize if not completely eliminate the loss of loose hay. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after studying the detailed description of the invention in view of the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4072241 (1978-02-01), Parker et al.
patent: 4204790 (1980-05-01), Baxter
patent: 4227844 (1980-10-01), Love
patent: 4396331 (1983-08-01), Forstar
Krizek Janice L.
McAfee & Taft
Savage Equipment Incorporated
LandOfFree
Trailer apparatus for lifting and transporting round hay bales does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Trailer apparatus for lifting and transporting round hay bales, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Trailer apparatus for lifting and transporting round hay bales will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2470761