Bale moving apparatus

• US 6,840,730 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emmanuel P. Noualy
• Original Assignee: Emmanuel P. Noualy
• Inventors: Noualy, Emmanuel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRIZEK, JANICE LEE
• Application Number:
  US10/355,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20030123956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 414/24.5, 414/24.6, 414/482, 414/483, 414/484, 414/485, 414/703, 414/721, 414/911, 414/912
• US Class Current: 414/24.6
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2087/128 Devices for unrolling or breaking round bales
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 87/127 Apparatus for handling, loading or unrolling round bales

Abstract

A bale moving apparatus provides a generally horizontal tow frame with a linear support axle supported by a pair of opposing wheels. A tow bar provides a tow strut, a rest bar, and a winch. A bale support is pivotally joined to, and extends upwardly from the support axle assembly, and is rotatable between an upright attitude and a tilted-back attitude for securing a hay bail. A triangle formation of bale impaling spikes in mutually parallel disposition are used for impaling a hay bale at center and on two sides for securing the bail. The bale is pulling into the tilted-back attitude so as to enable resting the hay bale on the bale rest surface during travel. The rest surface is movable so as to enable placement of the hay bale'"'"'s center of gravity on the vehicle.

Claims

1. A bale moving apparatus comprising in combination:

a hay bale selected from a plurality of hay bales wherein the plurality of hay bales have an average height;

a tow frame providing an axle supported by a pair of opposing wheels;

medially joined with, and extending from the axle, a tow strut providing;

a medially placed rest bar extending upwardly therefrom,

a winch, and

a distal tow fixture;

a bale support pivotal about a pivot axis, joined to, and extending upwardly from the axle, the bale support rotatable between an upright attitude and a tilted-back attitude engaged with the rest bar;

extending from the bale support, a triangle formation of three bale impaling spikes positioned approximately parallel with a ground surface when the bale support is in the upright attitude;

the pivot axis positioned at a height above the ground surface approximately equal to ⅓

of the average height of the hay bales and wherein the tow strut provides means for longitudinally positioning of the rest bar thereon, whereby, with the bale support in the tilted-back attitude, the center of gravity of the hay bale is positionable relative to the pivot axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of the three bale impaling spikes is directed in line with the tow strut and centrally on the hay bale, and the further two bale impaling spikes are positioned equidistantly laterally to the one of the three bale impaling spikes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the winch is a hand crank.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pull-line fastened to the apparatus and terminating with a pull-line spike, the pull-line and the pull-line spike of such size and dimension for enabling the righting of the hay bale.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for unrolling the hay bale and an unrolling means receiving means adapted for storing the unrolling means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distance between either of the further two of the three bale impaling spikes and the one of the three bale impaling spikes is less than the distance between the further two of the three bale impaling spikes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one of the three bale impaling spikes is positioned at the center of the hay bale.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the average height of the plurality of hay bales is between 4 and 6 feet.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bale support comprises:

a lower support of tubing providing a medial receiver and proximal and distal end caps, the end caps providing mutually converging angled ears;

an upright bar fastened within the medial receiver and extending upwardly therefrom; and

a pair of side trusses positioned on either side of the upright bar and fastened between the angled ears of the end caps and the upright bar.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the rest bar provides a U-shaped receiver for accepting the upright bar of the bale support, and further provides a means for locking the upright bar into the U-shaped receiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the locking means is a dowel pin fastened in place by a cotter pin.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a moving sleeve adapted for sliding on the upright bar and for engaging the one of the three bale impaling spikes for vertical positioning thereof and wherein the further two of the three bale impaling spikes are disengagable from the bale support.

13. A bale moving apparatus comprising in combination:

a hay bale selected from a plurality of hay bales wherein the plurality of hay bales have an average height;

a tow frame providing an axle supported by a pair of opposing wheels;

medially joined with, and extending from the axle, a tow strut providing;

a medially placed rest bar extending upwardly therefrom,

a winch, and

a distal tow fixture;

a bale support pivotal about a pivot axis, joined to, and extending upwardly from the axle, the bale support rotatable between an upright attitude and a tilted-back attitude engaged with the rest bar;

extending from the bale support, a triangle formation of three bale impaling spikes positioned approximately parallel with a ground surface when the bale support is in the upright attitude, wherein the distance between two laterally positioned ones of the spikes is greater than the distance between either one of the two laterally positioned ones of the spikes and a medially placed one of the spikes;

the pivot axis positioned at a height above the ground surface approximately equal to ⅓

of the average height of the hay bales and wherein the tow strut provides means for longitudinal positioning of the rest bar thereon, whereby, with the bale support in the tilted-back attitude, the center of gravity of the hay bale is positionable relative to the pivot axis.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the winch is a hand crank.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the rest bar provides a U-shaped receiver for accepting the upright bar of the bale support, and further provides a means for locking the upright bar into the U-shaped receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a pull-line fastened to the apparatus and terminating with a pull-line spike, the pull-line and the pull-line spike of such size and dimension for enabling the righting of the hay bale.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a means for unrolling the hay bale and an unrolling means receiving means adapted for storing the unrolling means.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the bale support comprises:

a lower support of tubing providing a medial receiver and proximal and distal end caps, the end caps providing mutually converging angled ears;

an upright bar fastened within the medial receiver and extending upwardly therefrom; and

a pair of side trusses positioned on either side of the upright bar and fastened between the angled ears of the end caps and the upright bar.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a moving sleeve adapted for sliding on the upright bar and for engaging the medially placed one of the three bale impaling spikes for vertical positioning thereof and wherein the further two of the three bale impaling spikes are disengagable from the bale support.