Loader feeder apparatus for loading and feeding bales of hay and the like

• US 4,237,821 A
• Filed: 10/22/1979
• Issued: 12/09/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: H. M. Haines
• Original Assignee: H. M. Haines
• Inventors: Haines, H. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chamblee, Hugh R.
• Application Number:
  US06/087,010
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 119/60, 119/58, 414/24.5, 414/685
• US Class Current: 119/60
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 87/127 Apparatus for handling, loading or unrolling round bales

Abstract

An improved loader feeder apparatus for loading, transporting and feeding bales of hay and the like which includes a tine assembly connected to an axle which is pivotally movable on the axle to a loading position wherein a portion of the tine assembly is engagable with a bale of hay and the like for securing the bale of hay and the like to the tine assembly and which is pivotally movable on the axle to a hauling position wherein the tine assembly cooperates to support a bale of hay and the like a distance above the ground for transporting the bale of hay and the like to various locations. The loader feeder apparatus includes a rear wall assembly which is connected to the axle, a first side wall assembly which is connected to the rear wall assembly, a second side wall assembly which is connected to the rear wall assembly, a first gate assembly which is hingedly connected to the first side wall assembly and a second gate assembly which is hingedly connected to the second side wall assembly. The rear wall assembly, the side wall assemblies and the gate assemblies cooperate to encompass and support a portion of the bale of hay and the like supported on the tine assembly in one position of the gate assemblies. One end of a tongue assembly is pivotally connected to the axle and means are included for moving the apparatus to a loading position wherein the tines are engagable with a bale of hay and the like and to a hauling position wherein the tines support the bale of hay and the like a distance above the ground surface.

Claims

1. A loader feeder apparatus adapted to be pulled by a vehicle for loading bales of hay and the like from a ground surface, transporting the loaded bales of hay and the like and allowing animals to feed on the bales of hay and the like, comprising:

an axle having a first end and an opposite second end;

means for rotatingly supporting the axle;

a tongue assembly having a first end and an opposite second end, the second end of the tongue assembly being pivotally connected to the axle;

means for removably connecting the first end of the tongue assembly to a vehicle;

a tongue bar having a first end and an opposite second end with the first end connected to the tongue assembly, the tongue bar extending angularly from the tongue assembly with the second end of the tongue bar being spaced a distance from the second end of the tongue assembly;

a tine assembly connected to and extending a distance from the axle;

a rear wall assembly having an upper side, a lower side, a first end and a second end, the lower side being connected to the axle and the rear wall assembly extending a distance from the axle generally perpendicular to the tine assembly and terminating with the upper side thereof;

a winch assembly, having a portion removably connectable to the rear wall assembly generally near the upper side of the rear wall assembly, for moving the rear wall assembly in a direction generally toward the tongue assembly thereby rotating the axle and pivoting the tine assembly in a generally upwardly direction to a hauling position wherein the tine assembly is positioned for supporting a bale of hay and the like a distance above the ground for transporting the bale of hay and the like and for moving the rear wall assembly from the hauling position in a direction generally away from the tongue assembly thereby rotating the axle and pivoting the tine assembly in a generally downwardly direction to a loading position wherein the tine assembly is positioned for engaging a bale of hay and the like, the loader feeder apparatus being positioned for allowing animals to feed on the bale of hay and the like in the loading position;

means for removably connecting the rear wall assembly to the second end of the tongue bar when the tine assembly is in the hauling position for securing the tine assembly in the hauling position;

a first side wall assembly having a first end, a second end, an upper side and a lower side, a portion of the first side wall assembly being constructed to permit animals to feed on the hay and the like through the first side wall assembly, the first end of the first side wall being removably connected to the axle and to the first end of the rear wall assembly;

a first gate assembly having a first end, a second end, an upper side and a lower side, a portion of the first gate assembly being constructed to permit animals to feed on the hay and the like through the first gate assembly, the first end of the first gate assembly being hingedly connected to the second end of the first side wall assembly to permit the first gate assembly to be moved to an opened position and to be moved to a closed position wherein the first gate assembly extends generally perpendicularly from the first side wall assembly;

a second side wall assembly having a first end, a second end, an upper side and a lower side, a portion of the second side wall assembly being constructed to permit animals to feed on the hay and the like through the second side wall assembly, the first end of the second side wall being removably connected to the axle and to the second end of the rear wall assembly; and

a second gate assembly having a first end, a second end, an upper side and a lower side, a portion of the second gate assembly being constructed to permit animals to feed on the hay and the like through the second gate assembly, the first end of the second gate assembly being hingedly connected to the second end of the second side wall assembly to permit the second gate assembly to be moved to an opened position and to be moved to a closed position wherein the second gate assembly extends generally perpendicularly from the second side wall assembly.

2. The loader feeder apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for rotatingly supporting the axle is defined further to include:

a first wheel rollingly connected to the first end of the axle; and

a second wheel rollingly connected to the second end of the axle.

3. The loader feeder of claim 1 wherein the tongue assembly is defined further to include:

a first rod having a first end and a second end, the second end of the first rod being pivotally connected to the axle generally near and spaced a distance from the first end of the axle; and

a second rod having a first end and an opposite second end being pivotally connected to the axle generally near and spaced a distance from the second end of the axle and the first end of the second rod being connected to the first end of the first rod, the first and the second rods and the tongue bar providing three connection points when the tongue bar is connected to the rear wall assembly.

4. The loader feeder of claim 1 wherein the rear wall assembly is defined further to include:

a cross bar having a first end and a second end;

means for supporting the cross bar generally above the axle, the cross bar extending generally parallel with the axle;

a first plate connected to the cross bar generally near the first end of the cross bar, having an opening formed therethrough; and

a first post secured to the axle generally near the first end of the axle having an opening formed therein and extending a distance therethrough, to include an opening formed therein and extending a distance therethrough; and

wherein the first side wall assembly is defined further to include;

a frame having an upper side forming the upper side of the first side wall assembly, a lower side forming the lower side of the first side wall assembly, a first end forming the first end of the first side wall assembly and a second end forming the second end of the first side wall assembly; and

a connecting post connected to the first end of the frame, a portion of the connecting post extending a distance generally from the upper side of the frame and being insertable through the opening in the first plate and a portion of the connecting post being insertable into the opening in the first post for removably connecting the first side wall assembly to the rear wall assembly.

5. The loader feeder apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and the second gate assemblies are defined further as being movable to the closed positions wherein the second end of the second gate assembly is disposed near the second end of the first gate assembly;

and wherein the loader feeder apparatus is defined further to include;

means for removably connecting the second end of the first gate assembly to the second end of the second gate assembly in the closed position of the first and the second gate assemblies.

6. The loader feeder apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first and the second side wall assemblies, the first and the second gate assemblies and the rear wall assembly cooperate to encompass a material area in the closed position of the first and the second gate assemblies with a portion of the tine assembly being disposed generally within the material area for supporting a bale of hay and the like generally within the material area, and the first and the second side wall assemblies, the first and the second gate assemblies and the rear wall assembly cooperate with the tine assembly to support the bale of hay and the like, and the first and the second side wall assemblies, the first and the second gate assemblies and the rear wall assembly extending generally around the bale of hay and the like in the closed position of the first and the second gate assemblies.

7. The loader feeder apparatus of claim 5 defined further to include:

means for hingedly connecting the first gate assembly to the first side wall assembly to be moved to the closed position wherein the first gate assembly is disposed generally adjacent the first side wall assembly; and

means for hingedly connecting the second gate assembly to the second side wall assembly to be moved to the closed position wherein the second gate assembly is disposed generally adjacent the second side wall assembly.

8. The loader feeder of claim 5 wherein the rear wall assembly is defined further to include:

a second plate connected to the cross bar generally near the second end of the cross bar, having an opening formed therethrough; and

a second post secured to the axle generally near the second end of the axle having an opening formed therein and extending a distance therethrough; and

wherein the second side wall assembly is defined further to include;

a frame having an upper side forming the upper side of the second side wall assembly, a lower side forming the lower side of the second side wall assembly, a first end forming the first end of the second side wall assembly and a second end forming the second end of the second side wall assembly; and

a connecting post connected to the first end of the frame, a portion of the connecting post extending a distance generally from the upper side of the frame and being insertable through the opening in the second plate and a portion of the connecting post being insertable into the opening in the second post for removably connecting the second side wall assembly to the rear wall assembly.

9. The loader feeder of claim 8 wherein the frame of the first side wall assembly is defined further to include:

a support post spaced a distance from the connecting post and forming the second end of the frame;

a panel constructed of a solid material connected to and extending generally between the connecting post and the support post, one side of the panel forming the lower side of the frame and the panel extending a distance toward the upper side of the frame and being spaced a distance from the upper side of the frame;

an upper side bar connected to and extending between the connecting post and the second end of the frame, the upper side bar being spaced a distance from the panel and forming the upper side of the frame; and

a plurality of frame bars connected to and extending between the upper side bar and the panel, the frame bars being spaced to permit animals to feed on the hay and the like disposed in the material space through the spaces between the frame bars.

10. The loader feeder of claim 9 wherein the frame of the second side wall assembly is defined further to include:

a support post spaced a distance from the connecting post and forming the second end of the frame;

a panel constructed of a solid material connected to and extending generally between the connecting post and the support post, one side of the panel forming the lower side of the frame and the panel extending a distance toward the upper side of the frame and being spaced a distance from the upper side of the frame;

an upper side bar connected to and extending between the connecting post and the second end of the frame, the upper side bar being spaced a distance from the panel and forming the upper side of the frame; and

a plurality of frame bars connected to and extending between the upper side bar and the panel the frame bars being spaced to permit animals to feed on the hay and the like disposed in the material through the spaces between the frame bars.

11. The loader feeder of claim 10 wherein the frame of the first gate assembly is defined further to include:

a first support post;

a second support post spaced a distance from the first support post;

a panel constructed of a solid material connected to and extending generally between the first and the second support posts;

an upper side bar connected to and extending between the first and the second support posts, the upper side bar being spaced a distance from the panel; and

a plurality of frame bars connected to and extending between the upper side bar and the panel, the frame bars being spaced to permit animals to feed on the hay and the like disposed in the material through the spaced between the frame bars.

12. The loader feeder of claim 11 wherein the frame of the second gate assembly is defined further to include:

a first support post;

a second support post spaced a distance from the first support post;

a panel constructed of a solid material connected to and extending generally between the first and the second support posts;

an upper side bar connected to and extending between the first and the second support posts, the upper side bar being spaced a distance from the panel; and

a plurality of frame bars connected to and extending between the upper side bar and the panel the frame bars being spaced to permit animals to feed on the hay and the like disposed in the material through the spaces between the frame bars.