GB2283229A

GB2283229A - A lifting attachment for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2283229A
Application number: GB9421022A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Kyne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-10-18
Filing date: 1994-10-18
Publication date: 1995-05-03
Also published as: GB9421022D0

Abstract

A lifting attachment for enabling even relatively small tractors (2) to handle large round fodder bales. The attachment has a frame (4) with ground engaging wheels (5) for towing the attachment (1) behind a tractor (2) the attachment (1) being connected to the three point linkage of the tractor (2). A mast (6) is mounted on the frame (4). A carriage (7) is vertically slidable on the mast (6) and has a pair of bale lifting arms (35). The arms are preferably pivotally mounted and operated by a ram (39) to move them apart and together. <IMAGE>

Description

'A Lifting Attachment for a Vehicles This invention relates to a lifting attachment for a vehicle, and in particular for a tractor vehicle.

Round silage bales are now commonly used on farms. A disadvantage of these bales however is that their weight is such that a small sized tractor cannot lift the bales either for transport or for loading the bales on a trailer. This invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

According to the invention, there is provided a lifting attachment for a vehicle, comprising a wheeled frame having towing connector means for releasably securing the frame to the vehicle for towing by the vehicle, an upright mast on the frame, a carriage vertically slidable on the -mast, means for sliding the carriage on the mast, and means for attachment of a material handling device to the carriage.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a lifting attachment for a vehicle, comprising a wheeled frame having towing connector means for releasably securing the frame to the vehicle for towing by the vehicle, an upright mast on the frame, a carriage vertically slidable on the mast, means for sliding the carriage on the mast, and a material handling device mounted on the carriage.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the lifting attachment is for a tractor and the connector means is releasably engagable with the three point linkage of the tractor.

In a preferred embodiment the material handling device is a bale lifter. Preferably the bale lifter has a pair of spaced-apart lifting arms extending outwardly from the carriage the lifting arms being movable together and apart on the carriage. The movement of the lifting arms may conveniently be achieved by means of one or more rams.

Preferably, the arms are pivotally mounted on the carriage for movement together and apart. Conveniently, the arms may be interconnected by a ram for pivoting the arms on the carriage to move the arms together and apart on the carriage.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, each lifting arm is L-shaped having an inner mounting part and an outer bale engaging part, the inner mounting part suspended from the carriage by a pivot pin intermediate the ends of the inner mounting part, the outer bale engaging part extending outwardly at a lower end of the inner mounting part, a ram being mounted between upper ends of the inner mounting parts of the arms for pivoting the arms on the carriage to move the outer bale engaging parts of the arms together and apart.

In another embodiment the carriage is slidable on the mast by ram means. The ram means may comprise a ram extending between the mast and the carriage. Preferably the ram means comprises a ram extending between the mast and a cross bar slidably mounted on the mast above the carriage, and one or more lifting cables, each lifting cable having a fixed end attached to the mast and a movable end attached to the carriage, the cable passing around an associated guide pulley on the cross member intermediate the ends of the cable. It will be appreciated that the term cable as used in this patent specification is taken to include equivalents such as wires, ropes, chains and the like.

In another embodiment, the mast is of rectangular shape having a pair of spaced-apart outwardly facing channel sides interconnected at each end by cross members, the carriage having sliders which slidably engage within the outwardly facing channels of the sides.

In a further embodiment, means is provided for connection of the rams to the hydraulic system of the tractor for operation of the rams.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lifting attachment according to the invention shown mounted at a rear of a tractor; Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the lifting attachment; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing lifting arms of the attachment in a different position; Fig. 4 is a detail front perspective view showing portion of the lifting attachment; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the lifting attachment in use engaging a silage bale; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the lifting attachment in use showing the silage bale supported on the lifting attachment in a raised position.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a lifting attachment according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The lifting attachment 1 is shown mounted at a rear of a tractor 2 and in use the lifting attachment 1 is towed behind the tractor 2. The lifting attachment 1 comprises a frame 4 having a pair of spaced-apart ground engaging wheels 5. An upright mast 6 is mounted on the frame 4. A carriage 7 is vertically slidable on the mast 6. Mounted on the carriage 7 is a lifting element which in this case comprises a bale lifter 8.

The mast 6 is of rectangular shape having channel section sides 10 interconnected at each end by a top cross member 11 and a bottom cross member 12. Each side 10 has an outwardly facing channel 13 (Fig. 4) within which the carriage 7 is slidably engagable. A pair of spaced-apart crossbars, namely a lower crossbar 15 and an upper crossbar 16 extend between the sides 10 adjacent a lower end of the mast 6. Connector brackets 18,19 are provided on the lower crossbar 15 and upper crossbar 16 respectively for releasably securing the frame to a three point linkage of the tractor 2.

The carriage 7 has a pair of sliders 22 each of which slidably engages within the channel 13 of an associated side 10 of the mast 6. The sliders 22 are interconnected by a pair of spaced-apart cross members, namely a lower cross member 23 and an upper cross member 24.

A lifting ram 25 extends between the bottom cross member 12 of the mast 6 and a cross bar 28 slidably mounted on the mast 6 above the carriage 7. Mounted on an underside of the crossbar 28 are a pair of spaced-apart pulleys 29.

Associated with each pulley 29 is a lifting cable 30.

Each lifting cable 30 has a fixed end 31 (see Fig. 4) attached to the upper crossbar 16 on the mast 6 and passes up over the pulley 29, having a movable end 32 attached to the lower cross member 23 of the carriage 7. Upon operation of the ram 25 the cables 30 raise and lower the carriage 7 on the mast 6.

The bale lifter 8 has a pair of spaced-apart lifting arms 35. Each lifting arm 35 is L-shaped having an inner mounting part 36 and an outer bale engaging part 34. The inner mounting part 36 of each arm 35 is suspended from the upper cross member 24 by a pivot pin 37 which engages the inner mounting part 36 intermediate its ends. Upper ends of 38 of each inner mounting part 36 extend above the cross member 24 and are interconnected by means of a ram 39 which is operable to pivot the arms 35 on the carriage 7 for movement of the outer bale engaging parts 34 of the arms 35 together and apart. Stop plates 40 are provided at outer ends of the lower cross member 23 of the carriage 7 to limit outward movement of the arms 35.

Means is provided for connecting each of the rams to the hydraulic system of the tractor 2 for operation of the rams.

In use, the attachment 1 can be secured to the three point linkage of the tractor 2 and towed behind the tractor 2.

For lifting a silage bale 50 (Figs. 5 and 6) the carriage 7 is lowered on the mast 6 and the tractor 2 is reversed to slide the arms 35 in under the bale 50. By operation of the ram 25 the carriage 7 is lifted on the mast 6 to raise the bale 50. It will be appreciated that the loading due to the bale 50 is carried by the attachment 1 and not by the tractor 2 and therefore a small tractor can be used to transport the bale 50. The bale 50 can either be towed behind the tractor in a raised position as shown in Fig. 6 or alternatively the bale 50 may be loaded onto a trailer or the like. The attachment 1 can also be used for stacking bales or to lift bales 50 and drop them into a feeder which can conveniently be done by spreading the arms 35.

Should the bale 50 have settled on the ground, the arms 35 can be moved apart to the extended position and once the arms 35 have been positioned on each side of the bale 50 the ram 39 can be extended to move the arms 35 together to grip the bale 50.

Ideally the wheels of the attachment are spaced at least 1.5m apart to provide stability even when travelling over rough ground. The wheels should also be adequately sized for travelling over rough ground.

It will be appreciated that the attachment may be provided with or without a bale lifter, in the latter case means being provided on the carriage for attachment of a conventional bale lifter or indeed other lifting devices.

It is also envisaged that various other lifting attachments may be mounted on the carriage such as a forklift attachment, or a work platform for example.

While the load due to the bale is carried by the frame in some cases, particularly in boggy conditions, this may be disadvantageous. To apply some weight to the rear wheels of the tractor, the three point linkage of the tractor may be operated to take up some of the load, thus, improving the traction of the rear wheels of the tractor.

It will be noted that the mast may be provided in any suitable height and in some cases may be telescopic.

It is envisaged that other tools or implements instead of the lifting arms may be provided on the mast. For example, a block cutter or a shear grab.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

LAIHS

1. A lifting attachment for a vehicle, comprising a wheeled frame having towing connector means for releasably securing the frame to the vehicle for towing by the vehicle, an upright mast on the frame, a carriage vertically slidable on the mast, means for sliding the carriage on the mast, and means for attachment of a material handling device to the carriage.

2. A lifting attachment for a vehicle, comprising a wheeled frame having towing connector means for releasably securing the frame to the vehicle for towing by the vehicle, an upright mast on the frame, a carriage vertically slidable on the mast, means for sliding the carriage on the mast, and a material handling device mounted on the carriage.

3. A lifting attachment as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material handling device is a bale lifter.

4. A lifting attachment as claimed in claim 3 wherein the bale lifter has a pair of spaced-apart lifting arms extending outwardly from the carriage the lifting arms being movable together and apart on the carriage.

5. A lifting attachment as claimed in claim 4 wherein the arms are pivotally mounted on the carriage for movement together and apart.

6. A lifting arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein the arms are interconnected by a ram for pivoting the arms on the carriage to move the arms together and apart on the carriage.

7. A lifting attachment as claimed in any of claims 4 - 6 wherein each lifting arm is L-shaped having an inner mounting part and an outer bale engaging part, the inner mounting part suspended from the carriage by a pivot pin intermediate the ends of the inner mounting part, the outer bale engaging part extending outwardly at a lower end of the inner mounting part, a ram being mounted between the upper ends of the inner mounting parts of the arms for pivoting the arms on the carriage to move the outer bale engaging parts of the arms together and apart.

8. A lifting attachment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the carriage is slidable on the mast by ram means.

9. A lifting attachment as claimed in claim 8 wherein the ram means comprises a ram extending between the mast and a cross bar slidably mounted on the mast above the carriage, and one or more lifting cables, each lifting cable having a fixed end attached to the mast and a movable end attached to the carriage, the cable passing around an associated guide pulley on the cross member intermediate the ends of the cable.

10. A lifting attachment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mast is of rectangular shape having a pair of spaced-apart outwardly facing channel section sides interconnected at each end by cross members, the carriage having sliders which slidably engage within the outwardly facing channels of the sides.

11. A lifting attachment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lifting attachment is for a tractor and the towing connector means is releasably engagable with the three point linkage of the tractor.

12. A lifting attachment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein means is provided for connection of the rams to the hydraulic system of the tractor for operation of the rams.

13. A lifting attachment as claimed in any of claims 2 - 12 wherein the material handling device is demountably engageable with the carriage.

14. A lifting attachment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the material handling device is a block cutter.

15. A lifting attachment as claimed in any claims 1 13 wherein the material handling device is a sheer grab.

16. A lifting attachment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.