Patent ID: 6364591
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A bale wagon system configured to load, transport and stack hay bales, said bale wagon system comprising:a. a three table bale wagon with a removable first table, a second table, and a load bed, and a wheeled chassis with a forward and a rearward end and a longitudinal axis, for support and transport of bales; b. a removable first lifting means with a conveyor, a receiving and a discharge end, mountable on said forward end of said wheeled chassis of said three table bale wagon, and with said receiving end of said conveyor positionable near ground level in a direction of travel, and with the discharge end at said removable first table on said wheeled chassis, configured for contacting and lifting hay bales which are less than 3 feet by 3 feet by 8 feet onto said removable first table of said bale wagon; c. a removable second lifting means with a conveyor and a receiving and a discharge end, mountable on the forward end of the wheeled chassis of the bale wagon, with the receiving end of said conveyor positionable near ground level in the direction of travel, and with the discharge end at a second table on the wagon chassis, configured for contacting and lifting hay bales which are 3 feet by 3 feet by 8 feet or larger in dimension onto said second table of said bale wagon, in which said removable second lifting means may be mounted alternatively to said first lifting means; d. a first table which is transverse to the long axis of the bale wagon, for receiving bales and accumulating bales which have dimensions less than 3 feet by 3 feet by 8 feet; e. said second table which is located adjacent to the load bed, for accumulating hay bales into a horizontal layer; f. said load bed configured for receiving a number of layers of hay bales accumulated on said second table and storing them in a vertical position, and configured for rotating the stack formed of layers from the second table onto an offloaded position, with said layers in a horizontal ordering; and g. a big bale attachment for the second table which is mountable on the second table and which comprises a reinforcing plate and a bale pushing blade, which pushes a big bale laterally on said second table, and a means of powering said bale pushing blade; wherein said bale wagon system is configured for handling small bales by use of said first lifting means and said first table, and is configured for handling big bales with dimensions of at least 3 feet by 3 feet by 8 feet by use of said second lifting means and said big bale attachment to said second table.