GB2300405A

GB2300405A - Round Bale Handler

Info

Publication number: GB2300405A
Application number: GB9607370A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Gilchrist
Original assignee: DAISY D Ltd
Current assignee: DAISY D Ltd
Priority date: 1995-05-04
Filing date: 1996-04-09
Publication date: 1996-11-06
Also published as: GB9607370D0

Abstract

An apparatus for lifting round bales comprises a support 1 for mounting onto a tractor and a pair of adjustable spaced arms 30, 32 adapted to cradle a bale. The arms are mounted on telescopically slidable members 15, 16 and are provided with respective rollers 31, 33 to facilitate lifting of a bale without puncturing the plastic film covering. The arms are preferably U-shaped tubular members, having a roller 31, 33 provided on one or more legs of the U-shape. Preferably the legs are angled upwardly.

Description

t'Apparatus for Lifting Bales" This invention relates to an apparatus for lifting bales and more particularly relates to a bale lifter for picking up round silage bales which are covered in plastic film. Hitherto, such bales may have been lifted by apparatus including spikes. However, in the case of bales covered with plastic films, such spikes would puncture the plastic film, thus affecting its integrity.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for lifting bales comprising a support having mounting means for mounting the support onto a tractor, the support carrying a pair of spaced arms adapted to cradle a bale to be lifted.

Preferably, the spacing of the arms is adjustable and the arms may be mounted on telescopically slidable members.

Preferably, the arms are generally U-shaped and each arranged in mutually angled planes.

Preferably, the arms are provided with respective rollers to facilitate lifting of a bale.

The arms may comprise tubular members and the rollers may be in the form of tubes mounted on said tubular members.

In a preferred embodiment, each arm comprises a tubular member formed into a U-shape having two parallel legs, the free ends of the legs of said U-shape being attached to said support.

Preferably, each arm extends substantially horizontally in use, a first leg of the U-shape being positioned higher and further from the other arm than the second leg.

Preferably, the first leg, the second leg or both legs of each arm are provided with a roller to facilitate lifting of a bale.

In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a hydraulic ram for adjusting the spacing of said arms.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an apparatus for lifting bales made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated an apparatus for lifting bales, the apparatus comprising a support frame 1 provided with mounting means in the form of a tractor pick up 10 and tractor hitch brackets 11, 12 for fixing the apparatus to a tractor. The support frame 1 is generally triangular and comprises side frame members 13, 14, a central vertical beam 17 and a lower beam 15.

One end of the lower beam 15 is provided with a first extension member 20 attached thereto. A first bale carrying cradle arm 30 is mounted on the extension member 20, so that the arm 30 extends in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the support frame 1. The cradle arm 30 is formed of tubular material (typically 30 mm diameter) and is generally U-shaped.

The legs of the U are generally longer than the base of the U; the arm 30 is attached to the extension member 20 such that the base of the U is located furthest from the extension member 20. The leg closest to the centre of the apparatus is provided with a roller 31 formed of tubular material (typically 40 mm diameter) which is free to rotate about the tubular leg.

The other end of the lower beam 15 carries a telescopic beam member 16 which can slide telescopically within the lower beam 15. To the end of the telescopic beam member 16 is attached a second extension member 21 which supports a second bale carrying cradle arm 32 similar to the first cradle arm 30 and having a roller 33 provided thereon.

The relative spacing of the first 20 and second 21 extension members is controlled by an hydraulic ram (not shown) whose centre line is indicated by 44. To this end, the first and second extension members 20, 21 are provided with ram mounting brackets 40, 41, 42, 43 attached thereto.

In use, the cradle arms 30, 32 serve to lift a round bale without puncturing the plastic film covering the bale. The rollers 31, 33 permit relative movement between the bale and arms 30, 32 without risk of tearing the plastic film. The hydraulic ram allows adjustment of the spacing between the cradle arms 30, 32, so that the apparatus may be used with a range of different bale sizes.

The extension members are angled to the lower beam 15 and telescopic beam member 16 respectively, so that the second or upper legs of each U-shaped support arm provide additional support to prevent a round bale from rolling laterally off the apparatus. The inclination of the extension members 20, 21 is selected such that there is a clearance between the bale and the upper legs during the bale lifting operation.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for lifting bales comprising a support having mounting means for mounting the support onto a tractor, the support carrying a pair of spaced arms adapted to cradle a bale to be lifted.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spacing of the arms is adjustable.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arms are mounted on telescopically slidable members.

4. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the arms are generally U-shaped.

5. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the arms are each arranged in mutually angled planes.

6. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the arms are provided with respective rollers to facilitate lifting of a bale.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the arms comprise tubular members and the rollers are in the form of tubes mounted on said tubular members.

8. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each arm comprises a tubular member formed into a U-shape having two parallel legs, the free ends of the legs of said U-shape being attached to said support.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each arm extends substantially horizontally in use, a first leg of the U-shape being positioned higher and further from the other arm than the second leg.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least said second leg of each arm is provided with a roller to facilitate lifting of a bale.

11. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the apparatus further comprises a hydraulic ram for adjusting the spacing of said arms.

12. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.