Abstract:
A bale moistening and handling apparatus including: an open-topped tank for containing liquid for moistening bales; means for gripping at least one bale; a boom, the boom having a first end and a second end, the bale gripping means mounted on the boom proximate to the first end; a mast, the mast adapted to slidably carry the second end of the boom, the mast operable to rotate about its longitudinal axis; and, means for operating the bale gripping means, the boom, and the mast; wherein a bale located at a first location can be submerged in the liquid in the tank to moisten the bale and thereafter be removed and deposited at a second location.

Description:
The invention relates to the field of bale moistening and handling apparatuses. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Before hay or similar feed is distributed to livestock, it is preferable to moisten or treat the feed with water or a conditioning liquid. Commonly, the feed is unbaled before moistening. The primary reason for moistening hay prior to feeding is to reduce or eliminate the dust that is commonly found in hay. This dust can cause very serious respiratory problems in livestock, especially in horses. In addition, This moistening, treating, or conditioning may make the feed more appetizing to livestock. 
   A traditional means of moistening, treating, or conditioning hay has been to pour or spray a desired liquid onto the unbaled or baled hay before it is distributed to livestock feeding areas. However, the process used for spraying or pouring is imprecise, labour intensive, time consuming, and inconvenient. Often liquid is wasted or more than the required amount is added to compensate for the wasted amounts. If the hay remains baled during the process, labour intensity and inconvenience are substantial as the weight of a bale will greatly increase upon moistening. This is especially so if the moistening and handling of moistened bales are to be conducted indoors as well as outdoors. Therefore, a means is required for moistening, treating, or conditioning baled feed which reduces waste and can be carried out at a convenient place and time, such as during bale handling prior to distribution to livestock located indoors or outdoors. 
   Devices for moistening, treating, or conditioning bales are known. For example, liquids may be injected into bales. An injection probe is employed for this purpose in Canadian Patent. No. 1,234,313, issued Mar. 22, 1988, to Akins. Injecting spikes are used for the same purpose in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,172, issued Aug. 19, 1986, to Miller and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,072, issued Aug. 4, 1998, to Ulrich. Similarly, devices for spray injecting liquids into bales are also known. For example, jet-forming nozzles are employed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,338, issued Dec. 9, 1986, to Sprott and Rotz and in Canadian Patent Application No. 2,082,504, filed May 6, 1991, by Carlson and Stockel. Moreover, devices for sprinkling baled material from above and for pouring liquids into bales are also known. For example, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,780, issued Jan. 8, 1980, to Lagerstrom and Nilsson and to German Patent No. 3,907,008A1, published Sep. 6, 1990, by Dues. 
   Furthermore, devices for submerging baled material in a liquid are also known. For example, reference may be made to Canadian Patent Application No. 2,132,322, filed on Mar. 18, 1993, by Stockel and Carlson and to Canadian Patent Application No. 2,166,476, filed on Jul. 19, 1994, by Stockel and Carlson. The bale moistening device disclosed in these patents, while intended to be deployed outdoors, are not easily deployed indoors. None of these patents provide a simple and convenient method of conserving moistening, conditioning, or treating liquid. 
   In addition, devices for bale handling are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,346, issued Mar. 10, 1998, to Davina and to U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,583, issued Dec. 14, 1982, to Bontrager. The bale handing devices disclosed in these patents is employed To load a bale carrying truck or similar bale mover. These devices are not specifically designed for moistening bales or for the simple and convenient handling of moistened bales both indoors and outdoors. 
   Although the patents referred to above relate to either bale moistening or bale handling, none of these patents disclose a simple and convenient apparatus for performing the combined function of moistening and handling bales. 
   A need therefore exists for a simple and convenient bale moistening and handling apparatus which overcomes the problems inherent in the use of existing devices and methods. Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a bale moistening and handling apparatus. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In general, the invention described herein provides a bale moistening and handling apparatus. The apparatus described is generally applicable to the moistening and handling of feed, but is specifically applicable to the handling of hay and to the reduction or elimination of dust in hay. 
   According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a bale moistening and handling apparatus which includes an open-topped tank for containing liquid for moistening bales; means for gripping at least one bale; a boom, having a first end and a second end, the bale gripping means mounted on the boom proximate to the first end; a mast, adapted to slidably carry the second end of the boom, the mast operable to rotate about its longitudinal axis; and, means for operating the bale gripping means, the boom, and the mast; wherein a bale located at a first location can be submerged in the liquid in the tank to moisten the bale and thereafter be removed and deposited at a second location. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the operating means includes a programmable logic controller. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the tank further includes automatic liquid filling means and drain valve means. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the boom is operable to rotate about its longitudinal axis. 
   Advantageously, the present invention allows bales to be moistened and handled prior to unbaling. This save times and effort in moistening feed prior to feeding. It is a further advantage of the present invention that the use of a common base allows the bale moistening and handling apparatus to be conveniently relocated. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the tank of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the tank of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a top view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a front perspective view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a detail front view illustrating the boom rotation means of the apparatus of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a side view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a partial side view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; and, 
       FIG. 12  is a partial top view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known components, structures and techniques have not been described or shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like structures or processes. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are shown respective front and top views of a bale moistening and handling apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus  10  includes a bale handler  12 , a bale moistening tank  14 , and control means  16  each of which may be mounted on a common base  18 . It is an advantage of the present invention that the use of a common base  18  allows the bale moistening and handling apparatus  10  to be conveniently relocated. However, the bale handler  12 , tank  14 , and control means  16  need not all be mounted on base  18  as, for example, if the apparatus  10  is installed in a confined area. By allowing flexibility in the positioning of the bale handler  12 , tank  14 , and control means  16 , the apparatus  10  may be configured for permanent placement at equestrian venues, mobile deployment at single events, or for custom installation. 
   The bale handler  12  includes a mast  22  and a boom  24 . The mast  22  has an outer member  28  which is slidable over an inner member  26 . The inner member  26  has a base end  261  and an outer end  262 . The inner member  26  is fixedly attached at its base end  261  by bolts or other suitable means to a hydraulic chain-drive  30  or other suitable actuator which in turn is mounted on the common base  18  of the apparatus  10  by any suitable shaft means. The hydraulic chain-drive  30  or other suitable actuator is operable to rotate the mast  22  of the bale handler  12  about its longitudinal axis. The outer member  28  of the mast  22  is operable, by means of a hydraulic cylinder  32  or other suitable actuator connected between it and the base end  261  of the inner member  26  by suitable pin connectors, to travel over the inner member  26  along that member&#39;s longitudinal axis. The outer end  262  of the inner member  26  may be attached to one or more supplementary support members  34  which in turn may be connected to nearby walls, roofing members, or other structures as installation conditions may permit or require. However, these supplementary support members  34  may not be required, for example, if the bale handler  12 , tank  14 , and control means  16  were all mounted on the base  18 . 
   The boom  24  has a mast end  241  and an outer end  242 . The mast end  241  of the boom  24  is connected by bolts or by welding to the outer member  28  of the mast  22  thereby allowing the boom  24  to travel longitudinally with the outer member  28  of the mast  22  along the inner member  26  of the mast  22  and to travel rotationally with both the inner  26  and outer  28  members of the mast  22  about the longitudinal axis of the mast  22 . 
   Again referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the boom  24  includes a bale gripping device  37 . The bale gripping device  37  includes a slidable bale gripping arm  36 , a pivoting bale gripping arm  38 , and fixed bale guide  40 . The slidable bale gripping arm  36  is disposed on the boom  24  proximate  241  to the mast  22 . The pivoting bale gripping arm  38  is disposed on the boom  24  proximate the outer end  242 . The fixed bale guide  40  is disposed on the boom  24  between the two bale gripping arms  36  and  38 . Alternatively, the bale gripping device  37  may be a simple basket-like device. 
   The slidable bale gripping arm  36  includes a first gripping member  42  suspended from and fixedly connected to a sleeve member  44  by means of bolts or welding. The first gripping member  42  may be L-shaped, for example, to provide additional support for elevated bales. The sleeve member  44  encloses a segment of the boom  24 . The slidable bale gripping arm  36  is operable, by means of a hydraulic cylinder  46  or other suitable actuator connected by means of pins between the sleeve member  44  and the point  241  where the boom  24  attaches to the outer member  28  of the mast  22 , to travel longitudinally over the boom  24 . 
   The pivoting bale gripping arm  38  includes a second gripping member  48  suspended from the boom  24  by a pin assembly  381 . The second gripping member  48  may be L-shaped, for example, to provide additional support for elevated bales. A section  382  of the second gripping member  48  extends above the boom  24  to accept the connection of a hydraulic cylinder  50  or other suitable actuator. The pivoting bale gripping arm  38  is operable, by means of a hydraulic cylinder  50  or other suitable actuator connected between the section  382  of the second gripping member  48  extending above the boom  24  and a point on the main horizontal boom  24  approximately over the point where the fixed bale guide  40  is disposed, to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the outer end  242  of the boom  24 . 
   In operation, a bale  52  may be gripped by the combined operation of the slidable bale gripping arm  36 , the pivoting bale gripping arm  38 , and the fixed bale guide  40 . Using the control means  16 , the fixed bale guide  40  is positioned over a bale  52  to be moistened, such that the longitudinal axis of the boom  24  is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bale  52 , and lowered such that contact with the top of the bale  52  is made. The opposing slidable and pivoting bale gripping arms  36 ,  38  may then be individually or simultaneously operated to close in upon the bale  52 , compressing the bale  52 , and hence gripping the bale  52 . If, for example, L-shaped gripping arms  36  and  38  are employed additional support for the bale  52  during moistening may be provided. 
   The control means  16  preferably includes several levers  161  to control the operation of the four hydraulic cylinders  30 ,  32 ,  46  and  50 , or other suitable actuators, associated with the bale handler  12 . It is an advantage of the present invention that the control means  16  and hence bale handler  12  may be easily operated. The hydraulic power source associated with the control means  16  may be mounted on or remote from the base  18 . The control means  16  may include a programmable logic controller (PLC) to allow for fully automatic and coin operation. Alternatively, and as will be described below, the apparatus  10  may be manually operated. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , side and rear views of the bale moistening tank  14  are illustrated, respectively. The bale moistening tank  14  includes a tank frame  54  enclosing a liquid container  60 . The tank frame  54  supports the liquid container  60  and includes suitable strength members  56 ,  58 . The tank frame  54  and liquid container  60  may be rectangular in shape. The liquid container  60  may be composed of lighter-weight materials due to the inclusion of the tank frame  54 . The tank frame  54  maintains the liquid container  60  in a fixed position during the submersion of bales. The liquid container  60  is filled with water  20  or another moistening, treating, or conditioning liquid. The bale moistening tank  14  may be equipped with automatic liquid filling means and drain valve means. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , the apparatus  10  is operable by the control means  16  and bale handler  12  to: grip a bale  52  which may be located on either side of the base  18 ; elevate, rotate, and position the bale  52  over the bale moistening tank  14  which may be located near the centre of the base  18  and which is filled with a bale moistening, conditioning, or treating liquid  20 ; lower and submerge the bale  52  in the liquid  20  contained in the bale moistening tank  14 ; elevate the then moistened bale  52  over the bale moistening tank  14  to allow excess liquid to drain from the bale  52  back into the tank  14 ; and, rotate, lower, and deposit the moistened bale  52  again on either side of the base  18 . Note that it is preferable that the apparatus  10  maintains a grip on the bale  52  during submersion in the liquid  20  as bales, particularly hay bales, tend to float. The apparatus  10  is thus applicable to the moistening and handling of hay and to the reduction or elimination of dust in hay. 
   In the following, several alternative embodiments of the invention will be described. These alternative embodiments vary from the preferred embodiment in several ways including the following: configuration of components; power source means used to grip bales; orientation of bales handled; pick up location of bales; deposit location of bales; size and shape of bales handled; and, number of bales handled at one time. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a top view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus  10  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. The boom  24  of the apparatus  10  is shown rotated to the left side. The apparatus is configured to handle multiple bales. Two bales  52  are illustrated. It is understood that the apparatus  10  may handle bales  52  of different shape and size. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a top view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus  10  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the bales  52  are rotated ninety degrees with respect to the boom  24 . The tank  14  is also rotated ninety degrees to accept the reoriented bales  52 . The rotation of the bales  52  and tank  14  may allow the apparatus to be installed in a smaller space. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a top view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus  10  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the boom  24  is mounted between two posts  22  and the bale gripping device  37  is slidable along the boom  24 . This embodiment has The advantage that means for rotating the boom  24  are not required. Consequently, this embodiment may require may be installed in a smaller space. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a front perspective view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus  10  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, means  243  are provided to rotate the boom  24  about its longitudinal axis. The boom rotation means  243  may be a worm gear or similar device and may be coupled between the boom  24  and mast  22  at the point  241  where these two members meet. The boom rotation means  243  may be operated by the control means  16 . The boom rotation means  243  allows the bale gripping device  37  access to bales that may be stored on a rack located above the apparatus  10 . With the boom rotation means  243 , the apparatus  10  may be operated, for example, in a two-story building. A detail front view of the boom rotation means  243  is illustrated in FIG.  9 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a side view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus  10  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a rack and pinion means  321  is used to raise and lower the boom  24  along the mast  22  rather than a hydraulic cylinder  32  as illustrated in FIG.  1 . The rack and pinion means  321  allows the apparatus  10  to be operated manually. In addition, the bale gripping device  37  may be operated manually using a crank and screw means  371  rather than hydraulic cylinders  46 ,  50  as illustrated in FIG.  1 . In this embodiment, the bale gripping device  37  includes two opposed, slidable bale gripping arms  36 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , there is shown a partial side view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus  10  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a cable and hand winch means  322  is used to raise and lower the boom  24  along the mast  22  rather than a rack and pinion means  321  as illustrated in FIG.  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 12 , there is shown a partial top view illustrating a bale moistening and handling apparatus  10  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a hand crank and worm gear means  301  is used to rotate the mast  22  rather than a hydraulic chain-drive  30  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The hand crank and worm gear means  301  allows the apparatus  10  to be operated manually 
   Although the invention has been described with reference To certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto.