Abstract:
The present invention relates to an improved system for collecting and stacking round hay bales on a flat bed trailer, particularly for use in agricultural applications such as farming or the like.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an improved system for collecting and stacking round hay bales on a flat bed trailer, particularly for use in agricultural applications such as farming or the like. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is common practice to transport hay and other agricultural products from one location to another as needed. Hay is usually baled into large cylindrical bales secured with twine that will often weigh several hundred kilograms depending on its size and moisture content. It is well known that moving these bales with purely manual labor is very difficult and as a result a mechanical apparatus to retrieve, transport and unload these most hay bales is required. 
         [0003]    In the past, the collection and stacking of hay bales is typically achieved with the use of various lifting and transporting equipment and the simultaneous work of at least two operators. For example, when collecting round hay bales in a field, one operator may drive a tractor with an attached flat bed trailer and a second operator will follow with a forklift or other appropriate lifting equipment. The first tractor moves the flatbed trailer close to one or more hay bale(s), pausing to let the forklift or other appropriate lifting equipment stack the hay bale(s) on the flatbed trailer. This method for the collection and stacking of hay bales is undesirable as it requires the labor of two operators and requires two pieces farm equipment. 
         [0004]    Alternatively, farmers may choose to collect and stack hay bales with a single towing system. In this case, the farmer will typically tow a flat bed trailer with a tractor having a front-end forklift or other appropriate lifting device. This method requires the operator to sequentially stop at select areas in the fields, manually disconnect the trailer, use the forklift to load and stack nearby bale(s) onto the flat bed trailer and then reconnect the flat bed trailer before continuing to the next area where a number of bales may be located. While this collection method can eliminate a second operator, this method is undesirable as it is time consuming and laborious for one person to complete. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, once all hay bales have been collected and transported to a desired unloading or storage area, the process of offloading any hay bales from a flat bed trailer requires a forklift or other appropriate lifting equipment and like the loading processes described above is time-consuming. 
         [0006]    Further still, forklifts or other lifting equipment will often cause damage to hay bales. For example, a forklift may pierce the hay bale or sever any attachments holding the bale together such that additional work may be required to repair or remove damaged bales. 
         [0007]    Moreover, farmers may cover hay bales in a wrapping material when producing haylage, silage or the like. For the fermentation of silage, haylage or the like to be effective, the wrapping must remain intact. Often forklifts and other appropriate lifting equipment handles bales roughly resulting in tears, punctures or the like that inhibit the formation of silage, haylage or the like. 
         [0008]    As a result, there has been a need for hay bale collection equipment allowing a single operator to efficiently move around a field collecting multiple hay bales without getting out of their tractor and that provides a reliable but simple system that minimizes the risk of damage to a hay bale. 
         [0009]    A review of the prior art indicates that while various systems for collecting and transporting hay bales have been provided in the past, there continues to be a need for new designs of such systems that provide improvements over these past systems. For example, the prior art shows various hay bale collection and lifting systems including U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,075, U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,827, US Patent Application 2003/0031533, U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,522, U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,706, U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,981, U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,102, U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,138, U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,757, U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,190, US Patent Application 2006/004657, U.S. Pat. No. 7,241,098, U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,205, U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,456, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,888. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a hay bale collection and stacking system requiring only one operator who does not have to exit their tractor. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a hay bale stacking and collection system that can load multiple stacks of hay bales onto one flatbed trailer. 
         [0012]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a hay bale stacking and collection system that can offload all hay bales in an efficient manner. 
         [0013]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hay bale stacking system that is simple, reliable and robust in order to prevent malfunction. 
         [0014]    In accordance with the invention, in a first embodiment a hay bale stacking system for operative attachment to a trailer for lifting and stacking hay bales on the trailer is provided, the hay bale stacking system comprising:
       a main pivot arm having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally connected to a first 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;   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 two hay bales are unloaded to first and second locations beside each other on the trailer and a third position where a third hay bale is unloaded on top of two hay bales in the first and second locations.       
 
         [0019]    In further embodiments, the guide track includes a ramp for rotating the cradle for unloading a hay bale from the first position, the main track includes a one-way stop for preventing inboard movement of the main track wheel within the main track when unloading a hay bale from the second position and/or the main pivot arm includes a latch for locking the main pivot arm in a lower position when unloading a hay bale from the first and second positions. 
         [0020]    In a further embodiment, the latch is operable to an unlocked position enabling the main pivot arm to upwardly pivot for unloading a hay bale from the third position. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the hydraulic system includes a main hydraulic cylinder and piston and an auxiliary hydraulic cylinder and piston for supporting the main hydraulic cylinder and piston. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, the cradle includes a cradle extension system for adjusting the size of the cradle. 
         [0023]    In yet another embodiment, the system includes a first treadle operatively connected to the trailer, the first treadle including an operative connection between the first treadle and one-way stop wherein actuation of the first treadle activates the one-way stop. In another embodiment, the system includes a second treadle operatively connected to the trailer, the second treadle including an operative connection between the second treadle and latch wherein actuation of the second treadle disengages the latch. 
         [0024]    Further still, the system may include a conveyor belt system for operative connection to the trailer for moving tiers of hay bales rearwardly on the trailer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0025]    The invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a hay bale stacking system and trailer in accordance with the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a schematic end view of the hay bale stacking system in accordance with the invention showing picking up a first bale in a series of three. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  are schematic end views of the hay bale stacking system in accordance with the invention showing the unloading of the first bale. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a schematic end view of the hay bale stacking system in accordance with the invention showing picking up a second bale in a series of three. 
           [0030]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are schematic end views of the hay bale stacking system in accordance with the invention showing the unloading of the second bale. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a schematic end view of the hay bale stacking system in accordance with the invention showing picking up a third bale in a series of three. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are schematic end views of the hay bale stacking system in accordance with the invention showing the unloading of the third bale. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a schematic plan view of the hay bale stacking system showing linkage connections between a first treadle and stop and second treadle and latch in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     System Overview 
       [0034]    In accordance with the invention and with reference to the figures a hay bale collection and stacking system  10  is mounted on a flat bed trailer  30 . The system generally includes cradle  12 , pivot arm  14 , main track  15 , guide track  15   a , latch  14   b,  one-way stop  26  and at least one hydraulic cylinder  18  mounted at the front end of the trailer  30 . The trailer  30  includes wheels  34  and a trailer hitch  35  as known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0035]    More specifically, and as shown schematically in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cradle  12  includes a track pivot wheel  13  able to slide and pivot within main track  15  and a cradle pivot wheel  12   a  able to roll along the guide track  15   a  that collectively enables both horizontal and vertical translation of the cradle from an outboard position as shown in  FIG. 2  and various inboard positions as will be described in greater detail below and shown in  FIGS. 3-11 . As shown, a main hydraulic cylinder and piston  18  is operatively attached between the frame of the flat bed trailer  30  and the cradle  12  to cause cradle  12  motion along the main track  15  and guide track  15   a . An auxiliary hydraulic cylinder and piston  18   a  is operatively connected between the frame of the flat bed trailer  30  and a support point  18   b  to assist in the support of the main hydraulic cylinder and piston  18  during operation of the system. 
         [0036]    Additionally, the cradle  12  will preferably include a cradle hydraulic cylinder  18   d  (shown in  FIG. 12 ) to effect lateral extension and retraction of the cradle extension arm  12   b  and thereby enable opening and closing of cradle arms  12   c  and  12   d . The retraction of the cradle extension arm  12   b  allows for the adjustment of the cradle so as to accommodate hay bales of different sizes within the cradle and/or to enable adjustment of the cradle to help prevent damage to the hay bale and its wrapping material as will be explained in greater detail below. 
         [0037]    Generally, during operation of the system, round hay bales  20   a  are picked up from the ground and stacked on the trailer in sets or tiers of three bales with the first and second hay bales  20 ,  21  forming a base and a third hay bale  22  being placed on top of the first and second hay bales. As shown in  FIG. 1 , as each set or tier is completed, a conveyor belt system  32  will move each set or tier to a rearward position on the trailer as denoted by the arrow. 
       Loading the First Hay Bale 
       [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , to load the first hay bale  20 , the cradle extension arm  12   b  is lowered to a loading position such that it extends laterally and generally horizontally from the flatbed trailer  30  slightly above ground level to allow the operator to move the trailer and lifting system towards individual hay bales in the field. As the operator approaches a first hay bale  20 , the cradle  12  is opened sufficiently wide to receive the first hay bale  20  between the two forwardly extending cradle arms  12   c ,  12   d  of the cradle  12  by activation of hydraulic cylinder  12   d  ( FIG. 12 ). Once the operator is satisfied that the cradle  12  and cradle arms are aligned with the first hay bale  20 , the operator drives the tractor  28  forward until the first hay bale  20  is engaged by the cradle  12  from behind and is contained within the cradle arms. The cradle extension arm  12   b  may be adjusted laterally as necessary to ensure that the hay bale is properly positioned within the cradle arms. 
         [0039]    When the first hay bale  20  is secure within the cradle  12 , the main hydraulic cylinder  18  is activated causing a rotation of the cradle  12  (containing hay bale  20 ) towards the flatbed trailer  30  as cradle extension member  12   e  is drawn inwardly. Initially, inboard movement of the track pivot wheel  13  is prevented by the position of the cradle pivot wheel  12   a  at the outer edge of the pivot arm  14  such that actuation of the main hydraulic cylinder  18  will cause the cradle pivot wheel  12   a  to upwardly rise along the guide track  15   a  thereby causing an initial vertical translation and rotation of the cradle  12  so as to lift the hay bale  20  above the deck of the flatbed trailer  30 . As the cradle pivot wheel slides along the guide track  15   a  to the horizontal position, track pivot wheel  13  will then begin to move inwardly along main track  15 . Auxiliary hydraulic cylinder  18   a  may support the main hydraulic cylinder  18  at this time. 
         [0040]    Now referring to  FIG. 3 , once the cradle pivot wheel  12   a  has been lifted to the upper surface of the main track  15 , the cradle pivot wheel  12   a  and track pivot wheel  13  will then be horizontally translated along the guide track  15   a  and main track  15  respectively in the direction of ramp  24 . When the ramp  24  is reached, the cradle pivot wheel  12   a  will engage with the ramp simultaneously causing further rotation of the cradle  12  about the cradle pivot wheel and upward movement of the cradle along the ramp  24 . At the same time, track pivot wheel  13  will reach the end of main track  15 . At the apex of the ramp, hay bale  20  is overcome by the force of gravity ( FIG. 4 ) and rolls out the cradle  12 . The first hay bale  20  comes to a stop on the flat bed trailer ( FIG. 5 ). Railing  31  is provided to prevent the first hay bale  20  from rolling off the trailer. As shown in  FIG. 5 , hay bay  20  depresses first treadle  60  on the trailer which activates one-way stop  26  on the main track  15 . 
         [0041]    The cradle  12  is then returned to the initial loading position by extending the hydraulic cylinder  18  which causes the translation of the track pivot wheel  13  along main track  15  and cradle pivot wheel  12   a  along guide track  15   a  respectively until the original horizontal or loading position is reached. The system  10  is then able to load the second and third hay bales  21 ,  22 . 
       Loading the Second Hay Bale 
       [0042]    The second hay bale  21  is collected and lifted from the field in the manner described above. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , with one-way stop  26  engaged, as the hydraulic cylinder is activated, inward movement of the track pivot wheel  13  is prevented whilst still enabling upward and inward movement of the cradle pivot wheel  12   a . As a result, movement of the main hydraulic cylinder causes the cradle to rotate ( FIG. 7 ) and the second hay bale to roll onto the trailer ( FIG. 8 ). The second hay bale will then depress a second treadle  61  which causes latch  15   b  to disengage. 
         [0043]    The cradle is then returned to the loading position as described above. 
       Loading the Third Bale 
       [0044]    A third bale  22  is then loaded within the cradle  12  as described above for the first two bales. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , with latch  16   b  having been released and one-way stop still engaged, activation of the main hydraulic cylinder will cause the cradle to rotate upwardly as described above for the second bale  21 . Continued actuation of main hydraulic cylinder and actuation of auxiliary hydraulic cylinder  18   a  will then cause the main pivot arm  14  to rotate upwardly about pivot  14   a  until the third hay bale  22  rolls from the cradle  12  onto bales  20 , 21 . 
       Loading Subsequent Tiers 
       [0046]    In a preferred embodiment, the flat bed trailer  30  as shown in  FIG. 1  is equipped with at least one conveyor belt  32 . When three hay bales  20 ,  21 ,  22  have been stacked as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 11 , the conveyor belt(s)  32  move the set or tier of hay bales at a minimum the horizontal length of one hay bale towards the rear of the trailer  30 . Sufficient space is now available to stack another three hay bales in a tiered configuration. This process may then be repeated until the flat bed trailer  30  is full. 
       Unloading the Flat Bed Trailer 
       [0047]    A loaded trailer is then driven to a desired unloading location whereby the hay bales can be removed from the back-end of the trailer by continued activation of the conveyor belts  32 . In one embodiment, the back end of the trailer may be lowered to minimize the drop at the end of the trailer and to thereby allow the hay bales to be unloaded smoothly without falling off the rear of the flatbed trailer  30  in order to minimize the risk of damage to the hay bale or wrapping material if any. 
       System Control 
       [0048]    The system is controlled by appropriate control systems to allow the retraction and extension of the hydraulics and the activation and deactivation of the one-way stop and latch as known to those skilled in the art. In particular, each of the main and auxiliary cylinders may be configured such that a single control allows for synchronized operation of the hydraulic systems while loading all three hay bales. 
         [0049]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , appropriate cables  60   a,    61   a  may be interconnected between treadles  60 ,  61  and one-way stop  26  and latch  15   b , respectively. In addition, appropriate switches may be incorporated at appropriate locations on the system so as to prevent movement of components past the normal ranges of motion. 
         [0050]    Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.