Abstract:
An improved stack bed wagon is provided for pickup of one or more mid-size or big bales in an agricultural field for transport that simultaneously tilts and rotates a longitudinal bale 90 degrees upwardly and transversely over, adjacent, and along the forward upper edge of a stack bed for pushback onto the stack bed for transport or for consolidation with one or more similar bales in a single layer stack load on the stack bed that can be offloaded from the wagon to the field for later pickup and movement or that can be used for transport of the stack load for deposit in a different place or that can be used for the retrieval of a stack load from a field, ground, or storage surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/281,184, filed Jan. 20, 2016. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to a novel mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  that incorporates a novel bale loader arm assembly  60 . The bale loader arm assembly  60  is attached to a forward portion of a lower support frame assembly  10  of the stack bed wagon. When in use in an agricultural setting such as a hay bale harvest field, the loader arm assembly clasps a mid-size or big bale that is oriented longitudinally along the direction of wagon travel in the harvest field; simultaneously lifts and rotates the clasped bale approximately 90 degrees up and approximately 90 degrees horizontally and places the bale across a forward portion of a bale stack bed assembly  120  of the wagon and stabilizes the bale until the bale is engaged and pushed rearward along the stack bed assembly by a pusher clamping arm (bale pushback cross member  186 ) of a bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  that is attached to a front portion of the stack bed assembly. 
         [0006]    Field of the Invention 
         [0007]    The present invention relates to providing a novel bale stack bed wagon  8  (bale pickup and transport vehicle) that incorporates a novel bale loader arm assembly  60  that picks up a mid-size or big bale from the ground and simultaneously tilts and rotates the bale from a fore and aft orientation (parallel to the direction of wagon travel) to a transverse orientation (across the front portion of the wagon) with the bale surface that was on the ground tilted up and rotated 90 degrees to become the forward transverse surface of the picked-up bale that is towards the front of the wagon. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention enables the lifting, rotating, and depositing of one mid-size or big bale or a plurality of mid-size or big bales from a work surface (the ground) to a stack bed assembly  120  of the wagon for consolation into a stack load with other bales for transport from the field. The invention allows selective 90 degree rotation of a bale around two axes from the ground onto a stack bed assembly. 
         [0009]    A principal objective of this invention is to provide a novel mid-size or big bale stack wagon that is lightweight, compact, simple, low-maintenance, and reliable for use in a system that permits a farmer or other user a more economical and useful agricultural tool. 
         [0010]    Additional and various other objects and advantages attained by the invention will become more apparent as the specification is read and the accompanying figures are reviewed. 
         [0011]    The mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  in the preferred embodiment uses six hydraulic actuators. Each actuator requires the hook up of two hydraulic lines. The twelve hydraulic lines preferably are powered in a manner well understood in the hydraulic power art by a hydraulic system on a prime mover (a farm tractor) hitched to the wagon. The control of the invention&#39;s actuators may be accomplished by selective manual controls or by appropriate software of a control system that controls the hydraulic system of the prime mover to control the six actuators in a manner generally known in the hydraulic power art. In the views ( FIGS. 1 to 35 ), the hydraulic lines are not shown to allow viewing of invention elements that would otherwise be obscured. 
         [0012]    The preferred embodiment uses hydraulic actuators, but other comparable devices including pneumatic actuators could be used. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view from above the left front of a mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  showing a wagon draw bar  40  aligned right to left with the longitudinal center axis of the wagon and showing the bale loader arm assembly  60  in an arm down position, showing a stack bed assembly  120  in a bed down position, and showing a bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  in a clamp down position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view from above the left front of the stack bed wagon  8  shown in  FIG. 1  showing the loader arm assembly  60  in the arm down position (bale receiving position), showing the stack bed assembly  120  in a bed up position, and showing the bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  in the clamp down position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view from above the left front of the mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  shown in  FIG. 1  showing the loader arm assembly  60  in the arm down position, showing the stack bed assembly  120  in the bed down position, and showing the bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  in the clamp down position (central upper bed skin panels not shown to allow viewing of invention elements that would otherwise be obscured); 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the loader arm assembly  60  attached by nuts and bolts to a lower support frame assembly both shown in  FIG. 1  showing the wagon draw bar  40  aligned right to left with the longitudinal center axis of the wagon and showing the loader arm assembly in the arm down position (a bale receiving position)(the stack bed assembly is not shown); 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a left side plan view of the bale loader arm assembly  60  attached by nuts and bolts to the lower support frame assembly  10  both shown in  FIG. 1  (the stack bed assembly is not shown); 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a rear plan view of the loader arm assembly  60  attached by nuts and bolts to the lower support frame assembly  10  both shown in  FIG. 1  showing the loader arm assembly in the arm down position (the stack bed assembly is not shown); 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a right side plan view of the loader arm assembly  60  attached by nuts and bolts to the lower support frame assembly  10  both shown in  FIG. 1  (the stack bed assembly is not shown); 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a front plan view of the loader arm assembly  60  attached by nuts and bolts to the lower support frame assembly  10  both shown in  FIG. 1  (the stack bed assembly is not shown), and showing an angle A that identifies an upper sleeve  90  and a coaxial lower sleeve  80  descend upper left to lower right at 45 degrees down from a horizontal plane spaced above the ground and parallel to a horizontal plane of said stack bed assembly when in the bed down position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the stack bed wagon  8  shown in  FIG. 1  showing the wagon draw bar  40  aligned at a selected angle to the left from the longitudinal center axis of the wagon and showing the loader arm assembly  60  in the arm down position, showing the stack bed assembly  120  in the bed down position, and showing the bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  in the clamp down position (central upper bed skin panels not shown to allow viewing of invention elements that would otherwise be obscured), and showing an angle B that identifies said upper sleeve  90  and said coaxial lower sleeve  80 , and a coaxial loader arm pivot shaft  84  angle from right rear to left front at 45 degrees toward the longitudinal center line of said wagon; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the stack bed wagon  8  shown in  FIG. 9  showing the loader arm assembly  60  in the arm up position (a bale delivery to stack bed position), showing the stack bed assembly  120  in the bed down position, and showing the bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  in the clamp down position (central upper bed skin panels not shown to allow viewing of elements that would otherwise be obscured); 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view from above the left front quarter of the mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  shown in  FIG. 9  showing the wagon draw bar  40  aligned right to left with the longitudinal center axis of the wagon and showing the loader arm assembly  60  in the arm down position clamping a representative bale  6 , showing the stack bed assembly  120  holding representative bales  1  to  5  in the bed down position, and showing the bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  in the clamp down position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view from above the left front quarter of the mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  shown in  FIG. 11  showing the wagon draw bar  40  aligned right to left with the longitudinal center axis of the wagon and showing the loader arm assembly  60  in an intermediate position clamping a representative bale  6 , showing representative bales  1  to  5  on the stack bed assembly  120  in the bed down position, and showing the bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  in the clamp down position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view from above the left front quarter of the mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  shown in  FIG. 12  showing the wagon draw bar  40  aligned right to left with the longitudinal center axis of the wagon and showing the loader arm assembly  60  in the arm up position clamping a representative bale  6 , showing representative bales  1  to  5  on the stack bed assembly  120  in the bed down position, and showing the bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  in the clamp down position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a left side plan view of the mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  shown in  FIG. 12  showing the loader arm assembly  60  in the arm down position, showing representative bales  1  to  5  on the stack bed assembly  120  in the bed down position, and showing the bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  in the clamp up position; and showing in dashed lines the clamping assembly in the clamp down position and in a clamp intermediate position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a left side plan view of the mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  showing the loader arm assembly  60  in the arm down position, showing the stack bed assembly  120  elevated to the bed up position and a stack load of representative bales  1  to  6 , and showing the bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  in a clamping position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the loader arm assembly  60  shown in  FIG. 3  showing the loader arm assembly in the arm down position; 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a top plan view of the loader arm assembly  60  shown in  FIG. 16  showing the loader arm assembly in the arm up position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a rear plan view of the loader arm assembly  60  shown in  FIG. 16  showing the loader arm assembly in the arm down position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view from above and the right side of the loader arm assembly  60  shown in  FIG. 16  looking down along the longitudinal center axis of the loader arm pivot shaft  84  and showing the loader arm assembly in the arm down position and a loader arm vertical post  96  pointing down at a six o&#39;clock position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view from above and the right side of the loader arm assembly  60  shown in  FIG. 19  looking down along the longitudinal center axis of the loader arm pivot shaft  84  and showing the loader arm assembly in an arm intermediate position rotated about the longitudinal center axis of the arm pivot shaft about sixty (60) degrees and the loader arm vertical post  96  pointing at a four o&#39;clock position; 
           [0033]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view from above and the right side of the loader arm assembly  60  shown in  FIG. 19  looking down along the longitudinal center axis of the loader arm pivot shaft  84  and showing the loader arm assembly in an arm up position rotated about the longitudinal center axis of the arm pivot shaft about 124 degrees and the loader arm vertical post  96  pointing at a two o&#39;clock position; 
           [0034]      FIG. 22  is a partially exploded perspective view from above and the left side of the loader arm assembly  60  showing the loader arm assembly in the arm down position and the arm pivot shaft  84  aligned for coaxial insertion into a loader arm pivot shaft lower sleeve  80 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 23  is an exploded perspective view from above and forward of a loader arm vertical post  96 , and showing the vertical post, a vertical post pivot shaft bore  97 , a loader arm pivot shaft upper sleeve  90 , and the loader arm pivot shaft  84 ; said bore, said upper sleeve, and said pivot shaft are coaxial; 
           [0036]      FIG. 24  is an exploded top plan view of the loader arm vertical post  96 , the vertical post pivot shaft bore  97 , the loader arm pivot shaft upper sleeve  90 , the loader arm pivot shaft  84  shown in  FIG. 23 , a loader arm pivot shaft lower sleeve  80 , and a front cross pivot support rail  68  having a coped rail end  69  (coped profile) to be attached to said lower sleeve; said bore, said upper sleeve, said pivot shaft, and said lower sleeve are coaxial; 
           [0037]      FIG. 25  is a partially exploded side plan view of the loader arm vertical post  96 , the pivot shaft bore  97 , the loader arm pivot shaft upper sleeve  90 , the pivot shaft  84 , the loader arm pivot shaft lower sleeve  80 , and the front cross pivot support rail  68  and the coped rail end  69  attached to said lower sleeve shown in  FIG. 24  and showing the preferred angle C of the pivot shaft bore (the intersection of the upper sleeve to the vertical post) is 35 degrees down from a horizontal plane across the upper end of the vertical post to the longitudinal center axis of the pivot shaft bore, said horizontal plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the vertical post, said bore intersects the vertical post descending diagonally left to right through opposite catacorner corners of the generally square profile at the upper end of the vertical post, and showing the preferred angle D of intersection of the coped rail end  69  descending diagonally left to right across opposite catacorner corners of the generally square profile pivot shaft rail to the pivot shaft lower sleeve is 55 degrees between the longitudinal center axes of the lower sleeve and the pivot support rail; 
           [0038]      FIG. 26  is an exploded side plan view of the front cross pivot support rail  68 , the coped rail end  69  (coped at 45 degrees across the right end of the pivot support rail from upper left to lower right) to be attached to said loader arm pivot shaft lower sleeve  80  looking in along the longitudinal center axis of the cross pivot support rail and showing two spaced lower sleeve cheek gussets  116 , a lower sleeve face gusset  118  coped at one end to be attached to said lower sleeve and coped at the opposite end to be attached to said support rail, and an arm assembly mounting bracket  76 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 27  is a side plan view of the front cross pivot support rail  68  attached to said loader arm pivot shaft lower sleeve  80  looking in along the longitudinal center axis of the cross pivot support rail and showing two spaced lower sleeve cheek gussets  116  attached to said lower sleeve, and an arm assembly mounting bracket  76  attached to said support rail outer surface; 
           [0040]      FIG. 28  is a partially exploded plan view of the front cross pivot support rail  68  having a coped rail end  69  to be attached to said loader arm pivot shaft lower sleeve  80  looking perpendicularly down on one of the spaced sleeve cheek gussets  116  and on the lower sleeve; and showing the lower sleeve face gusset  118  to be attached to said lower sleeve and said support rail, and an arm assembly mounting bracket  76  attached to said support rail, and showing the preferred angle D of intersection of the coped rail end  69  descending diagonally across opposite catacorner corners (from upper left rear corner descending to the lower right front corner) of the pivot shaft rail to the pivot shaft lower sleeve is 55 degrees between the longitudinal center axes of the lower sleeve and the pivot support rail; 
           [0041]      FIG. 29  is a plan view of the front cross pivot support rail  68 , the coped rail end  69  attached to said loader arm pivot shaft lower sleeve  80  looking perpendicularly down on one of the sleeve cheek gussets  116  and on said lower sleeve, said sleeve cheek gusset attached to said lower sleeve and said support rail, and showing said lower sleeve face gusset  118  attached to said lower sleeve and one of said sleeve gussets, and an arm assembly mounting bracket  76  attached to said support rail and showing the preferred angle D of intersection of the coped rail end  69  to the pivot shaft lower sleeve is 55 degrees between the longitudinal center axes of the lower sleeve and the pivot support rail; 
           [0042]      FIG. 30  is a partially exploded perspective view from below of the loader arm assembly  60  shown in  FIG. 3  and perpendicular to the coaxial longitudinal central axes of the upper sleeve  90 , the arm pivot shaft  84 , two loader arm pivot shaft bearings  82 , the lower sleeve  80 , a shaft retention cap  86 , and a shaft retention bolt  88  (the upper sleeve, the shaft, the bearings, the lower sleeve, the retention cap, and the retention bolt are all coaxial along their longitudinal central axes); 
           [0043]      FIG. 31  is a partially exploded and partial perspective view from slightly above the left front of the loader arm assembly  60  shown in  FIG. 30  showing the loader arm assembly in the arm down position and the arm pivot shaft  84  aligned for coaxial insertion into and through one of two bearings  82 , the lower sleeve  80 , two of two bearings  82 , and to be rotatably secured within the lower sleeve by a retention cap  86 , and a retention bolt  88 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 32  is a perspective view from below the left front quarter of the stack bed assembly  120  shown in  FIG. 1  with the bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  partially exploded and said clamping assembly in a clamp intermediate position; 
           [0045]      FIG. 33  is a partially exploded partial perspective view of the stack bed wagon  8  from above and from the rear from the left rear corner of the wagon shown in  FIG. 9  showing a stack bed rear bale retention fork  140  having a fork pivot dowel  142  attached transversely across the distal end of each respective fork lower leg and said dowel having ends extending outward beyond the sides of the fork lower leg and showing a fork retention means  148  (preferably regarding each said respective pivot dowel two pairs of opposing and cooperating elongated C-shaped slot defining members  152  that are attached to facing portions of respective inner surfaces of a respective longitudinal outer bale support rail  122  and of a respective longitudinal rear inner support rail  134  to receive and retain in two spaced and cooperating pivot dowel retention slots  150  the dowel ends of respective bale retention forks when each said respective pair of slot defining members are joined together forming a respective retention slot (central upper bed skin panels not shown to allow viewing of elements that would otherwise be obscured), said retention forks could also be attached in a fixed position to two spaced rearward upper portions of said stack bed assembly or attached by attachment means well understood in the art; 
           [0046]      FIG. 34  is a left side plan view of the stack bed rear bale retention fork  140  shown in  FIG. 33  and showing a fork hold-down crook  144  attached to the bottom surface of the retention fork; and 
           [0047]      FIG. 35  is a partial left side plan view of the stack bed wagon  8  shown in  FIG. 33  showing the stack bed rear bale retention fork  140  having a fork pivot dowel  142  retained in the retention slot  150  and showing the hold-down crook  144  engaging a fork hold-down crook retention bar  146 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 35 , the present invention is a novel mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  that incorporates a novel bale loader arm assembly  60 . 
         [0049]    The elements of the invention, a mid-size or big bale stack bed wagon  8  comprise:
       a. a lower support frame assembly  10  comprising:
           a flotation tire wheel and axle assembly  12  having attached at least two flotation tires  14  (said tires coaxial and attached at opposite ends of said axle assembly), a longitudinal right main rail  16  spaced from a longitudinal left main rail  18 , said main rails transversely attached to and supported by said axle assembly, a main rail actuator ear  17  attached to a forward portion of said right main rail between said main rails;   a front cross open frame  20  transversely attached to and bridging between the forward ends of said main rails, said front cross open frame comprising: an upper cross frame rail  22  spaced from a lower cross frame rail  24 , said frame rails attached to and bridging between the respective upper ends and lower ends of both a right cross frame post  26  and a left cross frame post  28 , said frame posts spaced one from the other, an upper cross frame pad  30  spaced from a lower cross frame pad  32 , said frame pads (preferably made from a low friction UHMW plastic sheet material) attached to facing portions of said upper cross frame rail and said lower cross frame rail;   a plurality of lower support cross members  34  behind said cross frame distributed and transversely attached to and between said main rails;   a plurality of loader arm assembly mounting flanges  36  attached to selected upper outer forward portions of said main rails;   two spaced pairs of stack bed assembly mounting pivot ears  38  attached to outer rear portions of said main rails;   a longitudinal wagon draw bar  40  having a draw bar actuator ear  41  attached to a forward portion of said draw bar, said draw bar slidingly received between said frame rails and closely adjacent and between said frame pads and pivotally mounted between said main rails and to a draw bar mount  42  that is attached to a forward middle portion of the first said lower support cross member behind said cross frame;   a wagon hitch  44  attached to the distal forward end of said draw bar for attaching said wagon to a prime mover (a farm tractor);   a draw bar angle adjustment actuator  46  operatively attached to and between said main rail actuator ear and said draw bar actuator ear, said angle adjustment actuator to selectively rotate said draw bar in a horizontal plane;   a preferably reverse L-shaped picked-up bale support  48  having a longitudinal leg portion attached to a forward upper portion of the left main rail and having a transverse leg portion attached to an forward upper portion of said right main rail; a pair of spaced stack bed main actuator mounting ears  50  attached to said axle assembly;   a pair of spaced stack bed main actuators  52  pivotally attached to said main actuator mounting ears;   preferably a respective closely fitted main rail front reinforcing glove  54  is attached to each respective said main rail forward to said axle assembly;   preferably a respective closely fitted main rail rear reinforcing glove  56  is attached to each respective said main rail forward to said axle assembly;   
           B. a bale loader arm assembly  60  attached to said lower support frame assembly (preferably attached using nuts and bolts with cooperating flanges and brackets), said bale loader arm assembly comprising:
           a main longitudinal loader rail  62  at its front end having an arm assembly mounting bracket  74  attached and said mounting bracket  74  attached to said upper cross frame rail, and said longitudinal loader rail attached preferably perpendicularly to a rear loader cross rail  64  having an arm rotation actuator mounting ear  66  attached at the right end of said cross rail;   a front cross pivot support rail  68  spaced forward from the right end of said cross rail, said pivot support rail having a coped rail end  69  (coped profile) away from said longitudinal loader rail;   a loader diagonal rail  70  attached to and between said cross rail and said pivot support rail;   a plurality of arm assembly mounting brackets  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  selectively distributed and attached to lower outer surfaces of said loader arm assembly to cooperatively connect to said arm assembly mounting flanges of said lower support frame assembly including attachment by said bracket  74  attached to said upper cross frame  22  (all attachments between brackets and flanges preferably are made using nuts and bolts);   a loader arm pivot shaft lower sleeve  80  attached to said coped rail end, said lower sleeve oriented at 45 degrees from the rear to the front of said sleeve and angled from right to left toward the longitudinal center axis of said wagon and oriented down 35 degrees from the general horizontal plane of the wagon from the rear upper end to the front lower end of said sleeve;   preferably two loader arm pivot shaft bearings  82  are inserted and retained in said lower sleeve, and said lower sleeve and said bearings sized to closely receive and retain a coaxial loader arm pivot shaft  84  inserted and retained in said lower sleeve and said bearings;   a shaft retention cap  86  to secure the lower end of said lower sleeve to retain said pivot shaft within said lower sleeve, said retention cap attached to said pivot shaft by a coaxial shaft retention bolt  88 ;   a loader arm pivot shaft upper sleeve  90  coaxial to and diagonally above and rearward from said lower sleeve, said upper sleeve sized to closely receive and retain an upper portion of said pivot shaft (preferably the upper sleeve is attached by welding to the upper end of said pivot shaft);   a pair of loader arm rotation actuator sleeve mounting ears  92  attached to an outer portion of said upper sleeve;   a loader arm rotation actuator  94  operatively attached to and between said rotation actuator mounting ear and said sleeve mounting ears;   a loader arm vertical post  96  having a vertical post pivot shaft bore  97  sized to receive and retain an upper portion of said upper sleeve, said vertical post depending generally downward, said vertical post attached to said upper sleeve preferably with said upper sleeve inserted into said pivot shaft bore that angles diagonally at 45 degrees across the post and 35 degrees down from horizontal (see  FIGS. 23 and 25 ) to the sleeve center axis, said bore located towards the upper end of said vertical post;   a clamping arm connecting assembly  102  attached to the bottom end of said vertical post and said connecting assembly extending outward away from said post;   an inwardly disposed inner bale clamping arm  98  spaced from a pivoting outer bale clamping arm  100  said clamping arms attached to opposite ends of said connecting assembly;   a clamping arm actuator  104  operatively attached to and between said connecting assembly and said pivoting outer bale clamping arm;   an adjustable bale stop assembly  106  attached to said connecting assembly and located between said clamping arms;   a plurality of stack bed contact pads  108  attached to selected upper surfaces of said rear cross rail to contact selected portions of a stack bed assembly rotatably attached above said rear cross rail;   an arm down pivot stop  110  attached to an outer portion of said diagonal rail positioned to contact a sleeve mounting ear stop  111  (see  FIGS. 22 and 31  (preferably a contact pad is attached to one or both of the stops to cushion the contact between the stops)(contact pad not shown in  FIGS. 22 and 31 );   an arm up pivot stop  112  preferably is attached to an upper portion of said pivot support rail near said coped rail end;   a pivot stop contact pad  114  can be attached to said pivot stops (see  FIG. 19 );   lower sleeve cheek gussets  116  preferably attached between said lower sleeve and said pivot support rail (see  FIGS. 26 to 29 ); and   a lower sleeve face gusset  118  preferably attached between said lower sleeve and said pivot support rail (see  FIGS. 26 to 29 );   
           C. a stack bed assembly  120  comprising:
           two spaced longitudinal outer bale support rails  122 ;   two longitudinal front inner support rails  132  spaced between forward portions of said outer bale support rails;   a stack bed front cross beam  124  attached to and across the front ends of said outer bale support rails and said front inner support rails;   a plurality of stack bed cross members  126 ,  128  attached to and between said support rails;   a stack bed intermediate cross beam  129  attached to and across the rear ends of said outer bale support rails and said front inner support rails;   a stack bed rear cross beam  130  attached across the rear ends of said outer bale support rails;   two spaced longitudinal rear inner support members  134  inside said outer bale support rails attached to and between said stack bed rear cross member and said stack bed intermediate cross beam;   a pair of spaced stack bed mounting pivot ears  136  attached to said stack bed intermediate cross beam;   two stack bed mounting pivot pins  138  inserted and retained in cooperating said stack bed assembly mounting pivot ears and said stack bed mounting pivot ears to pivotably join said lower support frame to said stack bed assembly;   two generally L-shaped stack bed rear bale retention forks  140  (having capacity for limited fore and aft movement) attached to selected portions of the rear portions of said bale support rails with each fork having the upper leg extending above the horizontal plane of said bale support rails, having the lower leg extending forward of the upper leg, and each fork having a fork pivot dowel  142  attached transversely across the distal end of the lower leg of the L-shape with said dowel extending beyond the transverse profile of the lower leg to engage and be moveably retained within a fork retention means  148  (preferably a pair of retention slots  150  defined by opposing and cooperating generally C-shaped slot defining members  152  attached to the stack bed towards the said rear cross member with said slots allowing some fore and aft movement of the dowel ends and the fork along the longitudinal axis of the bed);   a fork hold-down crook  144  attached to the lower surface of each said fork to moveably interact with a retention bar  146  transversely attached to said stack bed rear cross member;   two main actuator mounting cross members  153  attached to and between respectively one of said outer bale support rails and the respective facing said front inner support rails;   two pairs of spaced stack bed elevating ears  154  attached to selected lower portions of said actuator mounting cross members and said elevating ears pivotably attached to the distal ends of said main actuators;   a pushback actuator mounting cross member  155  spaced rearward from said stack bed front cross beam and attached to and between said left outer bale support rail and the adjacent facing front inner support rail; and   a pushback pivot ear  156  attached to a selected lower portion of said pushback actuator mounting cross member;   one or more central upper bed skin panels  158  each said skin panel preferably having a plurality of longitudinal raised bale directing ridges  160 ; and   a plurality of loader interstitial contact pads  168  attached to the underside of said inner support rails to contact said stack bed contact pads; and   
           D. a bale pushback and stack clamping assembly  170  comprising:
           a pushback pivot mounting sleeve  172  attached to and spaced from and below a left portion of said stack bed front cross beam;   a mounting sleeve cheek gusset  174  preferably attached to and between said pivot mounting sleeve and said stack bed front cross beam;   said pivot mounting sleeve sized to rotatably receive and retain coaxially a pair of pushback pivot shaft bearings  176  and a pushback pivot shaft  178  (the rotational axis of said pushback pivot shaft is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said bale support rails);   one or more pushback pivot arms  182  (preferably J-shaped) attached at their lower ends (the top of the J-shape) to said pushback pivot shaft;   a pushback actuator mounting ear  184  attached to one of said pushback arms;   a bale pushback cross member  186  attached to said pushback arms preferably spaced forward and above said pushback pivot shaft;   a pushback actuator  188  operatively attached between said pushback assembly pivot ear and said pushback actuator mounting ear;   a pushback shaft retention cap  190 ; and a pivot shaft retention bolt  192  to rotatably secure said pushback pivot shaft within said pushback pivot mounting sleeve.   
               
 
         [0112]    The six actuators of the invention are powered preferably by a hydraulic system of the vehicle that is pulling the stack bed wagon and the hydraulic lines are not shown to allow a clearer viewing of the structural elements of the invention. A majority of the structural components of the invention are preferably made from sheet steel stock, round or square steel tubing stock, or suitable materials used in making the preexisting bale wagons. Means of joining of elements of the invention one to another preferably may include welding. 
         [0113]    The preceding description and exposition of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented for purposes of illustration and enabling disclosure. It is neither intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations in the invention in light of the above teachings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted to the breath to which they are fairly, legitimately and equitably entitled.