GB2068329A - Wagon for transporting bales or similar objects, with mechanized loading and unloading - Google Patents

Abstract

The wagon comprises a tunnel- shaped container frame (4), capable of containing a plurality of aligned bales. The container frame (4) is open- bottomed and is supported from below by a supporting frame (8) mounted on wheels and extending around the container frame (4). This may assume a lower position, in which it rests upon the ground or at a slight distance from it, and a higher position raised by lifting means 9 farther from the ground. During the collection stage, the container frame (4) is held in the lower position and is made to slide around the bales whilst they rest upon the ground. Then by raising the container frame (4) by lifting means 9, the bales are also lifted and can be transported. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wagon for transporting bales or similar objects, with mechanized loading and unloading, particularly for large cylindrical bales of hay or straw (round bales) This invention concerns a wagon for transporting bales or similar objects, with mechanized loading and unloading, particularly for large cylindrical bales of hay or straw (round bales).

Even though the wagon in question can be used for numerous other different objects such as, for example, large containers with pallet-shaped bases or bales of rags, etc., it is herein under described and illustrated in its most typical application; that is to say, for loading, transporting and unloading large cylindrical bales of hay or straw commonly referred to as "round bales". The transportation of these bales from the fields where they are formed, to the storage area represents a big problem as they are large and heavy and cannot be collected by means of normal wagons and equipment used for collecting the lighter box-shaped bales. To solve this problem, a number of wagons are known to have been specially designed for collecting and transporting round bales.These wagons are all based on the common principle of comprising a supporting bed provided with sides upon which the bales are placed, and fork loaders situated to the side or front of the wagon which, inserted beneath or placed at the sides of the bales, arranged on the ground, lift and place them on the supporting bed.

Moreover, continuous conveyor chains are necessary, both in order to sort out the bales loaded each time and to distribute them along the supporting bed, and in order to unload the bales. Even though these wagons quite satisfactorily carry out the task for which they are designed, this invention intends to supply a new type of wagon which presents the following outstanding advantages:: -a considerably lighter and less expensive structure with equal performance; -less working equipment such as hydraulic jacks, gears, conveyor chains and relative equipment; cashier handling and more speed, both during the loading and unloading stage, especially of the bales; -possibility of rapid and easy disassembling and reassembling of the wagon in order to permit proper storage and cheaper transportation.

These and still further advantages are achieved by the wagon in question which is characterized by the fact of comprising:-a tunnel-shaped container frame defining an empty space, capable of containing one or more bales lined up one behind the other; said frame presenting, on the lower part, a lengthwise aperture extending along the entire length of the tunnel, the width of which is less than the diameter (or width) of each bale and larger than the width of the area of the bale in contact with the ground;-a supporting frame, mounted on wheels or other means suitable for permitting its movement and connected to a vehicle for towing the wagon, for supporting the container frame; said supporting frame extending outside of the bale container area and not beneath said lengthwise aperture;-mechanical lifting means, held by the supporting frame, which support the container frame holding it in two different positions with respect to the supporting frame; a lower position for loading and unloading the bales, in which the lower and open part of the container frame rests upon the ground or at a slight distance from it; and a higher position for transporting the bales, raised with respect to the previous position, in which any bales which may be present in the container area are raised from the ground.

Further features and advantages of this invention will result more clearly from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated merely by way of example and in no way restrictive, with the aid of the annexed figures in which: Figure 1 shows a top plan view of the wagon in question; Figure 2 shows a partially cutaway side view of the wagon in question, with the container frame in the lower position; Figure 3 shows, as in Fig. 2. the wagon in question with the container frame in the higher position; Figure 4 shows a cross-section in vertical elevation along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2; Figure 5 shows a cross-section in vertical elevation along the line V-V of Fig. 3; Figures 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D schematically show a sequence of operating positions of the wagon during the collection of the bales from the ground.

With reference to the above-mentioned Figures, (1) indicates the wagon in question which is coupled, by means of a shaft (2) situated at the front, to a vehicle for towing the wagon, in particular, to a tractor (3). The wagon (1) comprises a tunnel-shaped container frame (4) defining an empty space, the longitudinal axis (11) of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wagon; this area is capable of containing a plurality of bales (in the example shown in the figures, the number of bales which this area can contain is four) lined up one behind the other. In the lower part the frame (4) presents a lengthwise aperture (7) extending along the entire length of the tunnel, the width of which is smaller than the diameter of each bale and larger than the width of the area of the bale in contact with the ground.

The wagon (1) comprises moreover a sup porting frame (8) mounted on wheels (5) or other means suitable for permitting movement and coupled to the tractor (3); the container frame (4) hangs below said supporting frame (8); said frame (8) extends around the area containing the bales and not beneath the aperture (7).The wagon (1) comprises moreover mechanical lifting means (9) which are held by the supporting frame (8) and, in turn, support the container frame (4) holding it in two different positions with respect to the frame (8): a lower position A, for loading and unloading the bales, in which the lower open part of the frame (4) rests upon the ground or at a slight distance from it, so that the cylindrical bales (round bales) which may be present in the container area rest upon the ground; and a higher position B, for transporting the bales, raised with respect to the previous position, in which the bales which may be present in the container area are raised from the ground.

The container frame (4) comprises a plurality of large forks (41) with their ends (41') pointing downwards, arranged on parallel vertical planes and aligned at regular intervals one behind the other, to form a sort of tunnel; two longitudinal guiding and supporting elements (6) (long rods) are integrally fixed to the lower open ends (41') of said forks, whereas the said lifting means (9) are fixed to the top of said forks. The two guiding and supporting elements (6) are horizontal and situated parallel to the axis (11) of the tunnel and to the sides of the aperture (7); these elements (6) are the main or sole elements upon which the bales (10) rest.

Said elements (6) protrude forward to a certain extent with respect to the first fork (41a) and moreover, the front ends (61) of the elements (6) are shaped slant-wise with their points opening outwards. The forks (41) are shaped like circular or almost circular arches with a width of not less than 180 sexagesimal; in the example given in the figures; this width is approximately equal to 270 sexagesimal. The internal diameter of said forks is obviously larger, by an appropriate degree, than the diameter of the bales.The supporting frame (8) comprises a rectangular-shaped upper frame (81) composed of two long sides (85) in a lengthwise direction, and two short sides (84), to which are connected two side frames (82) to support the wheels (5); the frames (82) are situated at the side of the bale containing area and do not interfere with it.

Two cross rods (83) situated at an intermediate position on the frame (81) serve as additional stiffeners for this frame.

The lifting means (9) comprise a plurality of levers (91) each of which is triangle in shape, in which: one point is pivoted by means of a pin (92) to appropriate brackets (92') fixed both on the short sides (94) of the frame (81) and on the rods (83); the other two points are hinged by means of pins (93) and (94) respectively, to the top of the forks (41) and to a horizontal connecting rod (95) respectively, which links together all the levers (91).

The rod (95) is made to traverse by means of a hydraulic jack (96) the shank of which is pivoted to the rod (95) and the cylinder of which is connected, by means of appropriate brackets (97) to a rod (83); the protrusion of the shank of the jack (96) causes the movement, in a lengthwise direction, of the rod (95) and consequent rotation of the levers (91) and, consequently, movement of the container frame (4) from the lower position A to the higher position B and vice versa.

The shifting of the frame (4) from the lower position A to the higher position B and vice versa takes place by motion of translation so that the longitudinal axis (11) of the container area remains parallel to the ground. The shaft (2) which is coupled to the rear part of the tractor (3) is pivoted to the front part of the rectangular frame (81). A hydraulic jack (21) is connected to one end of the frame (81) and to the other end of the shaft (2).

By acting upon the jack (21), the wagon is made to move with respect to the towing vehicle so that the wagon can be towed alongside the towing vehicle (3) (position illustrated by the continuous line in Fig. 1).

The loading of the bales by means of the wagon in question takes place as described below: The cylindrical bales (10) are arranged upon the ground with their axes in a horizontal position. The wagon (1) is first moved, by acting upon the jack (21), alongside the tractor (3). Maintaining it in this position, the wagon (1) is then brought close to a bale (10') to be loaded so that this bale is almost in contact with the front ends (61) of the elements (6) and arranged so that its axis and the longitudinal axis (11) of the container area lie on the same vertical plane.At this point the frame (4) is lowered to position A; in this position, the elements (6) are close to the ground or in any case at such a distance from the ground as to enable them to slide beneath the bale (10'); it should also be noted that, in position A, the longitudinal axis (11) of the container are more or less coincides with the axis of the bale (10'). (This position is visible in Fig. 4). The wagon (1) is then made to move forward in the direction of the axis (11) so that the elements (6) are inserted beneath the bale to the side of the area in contact with the ground: therefore, during this phase the frame (4) slides around the bale (10') thus causing the latter to come to rest within the container area. This advancing movement occurs over a distance equal to the length, in the direction of the axis (1 1), of the bales and ceases as soon as the bale (10') occupies the first position C1 in the container area. The frame (4) is then raised to the high position B and the bale (10') is also raised from the ground, resting upon the elements (6). The collection phase of the first bale (10') is thus completed. The wagon (1) is then made to approach a second bale (10") (position illustrated in Fig. 6A) in the same way as previously described for the first bale (10') and the frame (4) is then lowered to position A (position illustrated in Fig. 6B). At this point the bale (10') rests once more upon the ground almost in contact with the bale (10") and with its axis coinciding, or almost, with that of the bale (10").

The wagon (1) is then made to advance, still in the direction of the axis (11), by a distance equal to the length of the bale (position illustrated in Fig. 6C): during this phase, the frame (4) therefore slides around the aligned bales (10') and (10") resting upon the ground, which are now within the container area, in the positions C2 and C, respectively.

The frame is then raised to the upper position B and the bales (10') and (10") are also raised from the ground, resting upon the elements (6) (position illustrated in Fig. 6D).

The collection phase of the second bale (10") is thus completed. Proceeding as described above, all the bales which the container area is capable of holding are then loaded (the container area shown in the Figures can hold up to four bales, however this can obviously be more or less in number).

The unloading phase is extremely simple: it is sufficient to lower the frame (4) to position A, so that the bales on the wagon rest upon the ground, and then to move the wagon forward: the bales are thus unloaded in the desired place.

It should be noted that when the frame (4) is in position B, the bales in the container area are pressed, from above, by the levers (91) and by the rods (83) and (84) (see Fig. 5) which ensures that the bales are held securely, thus preventing any dangerous oscillating or shifting of the load within the container area.

Moreover, it is foreseen that the elements (6) may also be fitted in a number of different positions with respect to the axis (11), that is to say, their position may vary in a radial direction to decrease their reciprocal distance in order to adapt the wagon to the dimensions (diameter) of the bales to be collected. It is furthermore foreseen that the frame (82) is bolted to the long sides (85), that the elements (6) are bolted to the ends (41') of the forks (41) and that the shaft (2) is easily detachable, together with all the various pins of the levers (91); in order to considerably reduce the overall dimensions of the wagon for storage and transportation of the latter: in this way, the structure of the wagon can be easily disassembled and reassembled.

Numerous modifications of a practical applicational nature may, of course, be made to the constructional details of the invention, such as, for example, the shape of the forks (41) which may differ to that illustrated, providing they are sufficient to encircle the bales and to support the elements (6), just as, for example, the lifting means illustrated which may also differ without however deviating from the concept of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (8)

1. Wagon for transporting bales or similar objects, with mechanized loading and unloading, particularly for large cylindrical bales of hay or straw (round bales), characterized by the fact of comprising: -a tunnel-shaped container frame 4 defining an empty area, capable of containing one or more bales 10, aligned one behind the other; said frame presenting, on the lower part, a lengthwise aperture 7, extending along the entire length of the tunnel, the width of which is smaller than the diameter (or width) of each bale 10, and larger than the width of the area of the bale in contact with the ground;-a supporting frame 8, mounted on wheels or other means for permitting its movement and coupled to a vehicle for towing the wagon, suitable for supporting the container frame 4; said supporting frame extending around the bale container area and not beneath said lengthwise aperture 7;-me- chanical lifting means 9, held by the supporting frame 8, which support the container frame holding it in two different positions with respect to the supporting frame 8: a lower position for loading and unloading the bales, in which the lower open part of the container frame 4 rests upon the ground or at a slight distance from it; and a higher position, for transporting the bales, raised with respect to the previous position, in which any bales which may be present in the container area are raised from the ground.

2. Wagon as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said container frame 4 comprises a pair of lengthwise guiding and supporting elements 6 situated parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container area and to the sides of said aperture 7, said guiding and supporting elements 6 acting as the main or sole elements upon which the bales rest; the longitudinal axis of the container area being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wagon.

3. Wagon as claimed in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said container frame 4 comprises a plurality of large forks 41 with their ends facing downwards, arranged on parallel vertical planes and aligned, at regular intervals, one behind the other; said guiding and supporting elements 6 being fixed to the lower open ends of said forks, whereas said lifting means 9 being connected to the top of said forks.

4. Wagon as claimed in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said guiding and supporting elements 6 protrude forward to a certain extent with respect to the first fork and that the front end of each of said guiding and supporting element is shaped slant-wise with its points opening outwards.

5. Wagon as claimed in claims 1 and 3, characterized by the fact that said forks 41 are shaped like circular or almost circular arches with a span of over 1 80 sexagesimal degrees.

6. Wagon as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said lifting means 9 provide said container frame 4, in shifting from the lower to the upper position and vice versa, with a translatory motion so that the longitudinal axis of said container area remains parallel with the ground; in the lower position, the distance of the container frame from the ground being such that any bales present in the container area rest upon the ground.

7. Wagon as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said lifting means 9 comprise a plurality of levers 91, each of which pivoted to the upper part of said frame and hinged both to the upper part of the container frame 4 and to a single connecting rod, said rod being made to traverse by means of a hydraulic jack 96 or equivalent means connected to the supporting frame 8 and the translation of said rod causing the shifting of the container frame 4 the lower to the upper position and vice versa.

8. Wagon as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact of comprising a shaft 2, hinged to the front part of the supporting frame 8, of the type operated by a hydraulic jack or equivalent means, so as to enable the wagon to move with respect to the towing vehicle, to the side of the latter, so that the wagon can be towed whilst remaining alongside the towing vehicle.