Patent ID: 8152429
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A hay bale stacking system for operative attachment to a trailer for lifting and stacking hay bales on the trailer, the hay bale stacking system comprising: a main pivot arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally connected to a first side of the trailer and said main pivot arm extending transversely across said trailer to a second side of the trailer, the main pivot arm including a main track and a guide track; a cradle having a track pivot wheel operably mounted within the main track and a cradle pivot wheel operatively mounted on the guide track, the cradle for operable support and lifting of a hay bale from the ground to the trailer, said cradle being rotatable with respect to said main pivot arm via at least said cradle pivot wheel and said guide track; a hydraulic system for moving the cradle along the main track, for rotating the cradle with respect to the main pivot arm and for lifting the main pivot arm, wherein the main pivot arm, cradle and hydraulic system are operable between a ground position and first and second positions where a first hay bale and a second hay bale are successively unloaded to a first location and a second location beside each other on the trailer and a third position where a third hay bale is unloaded on top of said first hay bale and said second hay bale in the first and second locations; a first stopping means on said main track for stopping inboard movement of said track pivot wheel along said main track and allowing rotation of said cradle and unloading a hay bale at said first location; and an actuatable second stopping means connected to said main track for preventing inboard movement of said track pivot wheel within said main track and allowing rotation of said cradle and unloading a hay bale to said second location, wherein the main pivot arm includes a latch for locking the main pivot arm in a lower position when unloading a hay bale to the first and second positions.