초록 ▼

A fork-type dual bale lift has both longitudinal and machinery pivots. A frame structure is mounted on a vertically swinging load support. A boom member is coupled to the frame structure through a pair of bearings and is pivotal about the longitudinal machine axis. At the ends of the boom member are

A fork-type dual bale lift has both longitudinal and machinery pivots. A frame structure is mounted on a vertically swinging load support. A boom member is coupled to the frame structure through a pair of bearings and is pivotal about the longitudinal machine axis. At the ends of the boom member are bale supports that are operative to pierce and support a large bale for lifting and transport. A hydraulic cylinder is used to control the pivotal orientation of the boom about the longitudinal machine axis, and thereby allow an operator to selective raise one of the two bale supports while simultaneously lowering the other of the two bale supports. At the extremes of boom rotation, the lower of the two bale supports additionally engages with the frame structure to provide increased strength and stability during loading and unloading, and to reduce stress on the bearings during transport.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In combination, a tractor having a motive power source, a three-point hitch having a pair of lift arms and a stabilizer arm, and a dual bale lift having longitudinal and machinery pivots, said dual bale lift comprising: a transversely positioned upstanding frame having a generally horizontally ex

1. In combination, a tractor having a motive power source, a three-point hitch having a pair of lift arms and a stabilizer arm, and a dual bale lift having longitudinal and machinery pivots, said dual bale lift comprising: a transversely positioned upstanding frame having a generally horizontally extending member that terminates at distal ends, a vertical riser rising from said generally horizontally extending member between said distal ends, and mounting means connected to said lift arms and said stabilizer arm;a boom member pivotally connected to said frame for pivotal movement about a boom pivot axis generally parallel to a tractor longitudinal axis and in a plane generally parallel to said frame;a pair of bale supports adjacent to the ends of the boom member that are operative to pierce and support a large bale for lifting and transport, each of said pair of bale supports having a strike plate, each one of said first and second strike plates having a generally horizontal face, a generally vertical face, and an angled lip extending from said generally vertical face, said angled lip adapted to operatively accommodate limited twist in sad vertical riser and said boom member and thereby facilitate engagement with said generally horizontally extending member, a first one of said strike plates defining a first limit of rotation of said boom member by operatively engaging with said generally horizontally extending member adjacent a first end of said generally horizontally extending member when said boom member reaches said first limit of rotation, and a second one of said strike plates defining a second limit of rotation of said boom member distal to said first limit of rotation by operatively engaging with said generally horizontally extending member adjacent a second end of said generally horizontally extending member distal to said first end when said boom member reaches said second limit of rotation; anda hydraulic cylinder coupled between said boom member and said frame, and operative to control a pivotal orientation of said boom member about the boom pivot axis, and thereby allow an operator to selective raise a first one of said two bale supports, while simultaneously lowering a second one of said two bale supports. 2. The combination tractor, three-point hitch, and dual bale lift of claim 1, wherein said pair of bale supports each further comprise a main spear which is operative to pierce and support a large bale for lifting and transport, and adapted to provide a majority of support for lifting and transporting said large bale, said main spear adapted to operatively pass through and couple with said transversely positioned upstanding frame and said boom member. 3. In combination, a motive vehicle comprising a tractor having a longitudinal axis generally defining forward and backward directions of travel;a three-point hitch adapted to operatively couple with and be transported by said motive vehicle and having lifting and stabilizer arms; anda dual bale lift adapted to operatively couple with and movable by said three-point hitch lifting and stabilizer arms, said dual bale lift comprising: a frame coupled with said three-point hitch;a pivot which defines a pivotal axis that is generally parallel to said motive vehicle longitudinal axis;a boom member having a body and a first end terminating said body and a second end terminating said body distal to said first end, said boom member pivotally coupled to said frame through said pivot at a location intermediate to said first and second ends;a first bale retainer adapted to operatively retain baled matter and coupled to said first boom member end and having a first strike plate defining a first limit of rotation of said boom member by operatively engaging with said frame adjacent a first end of a generally horizontally extending member when said boom member reaches said first limit of rotation;a second bale retainer adapted to operatively retain baled matter and coupled to said second boom member end and having a second strike plate defining a second limit of rotation of said boom member distal to said first limit of rotation by operatively engaging with said frame adjacent a second end of said generally horizontally extending member distal to said first end when said boom member reaches said second limit of rotation; anda motive actuator coupled to said frame and to said boom member intermediate said pivot and a one of said first and second bale retainers and adapted to operatively pivot said boom member about said pivotal axis;wherein each of said first and second strike plates further comprise a generally horizontal face, a generally vertical face, and an angled lip extending from said generally vertical face, said angled lip adapted to operatively accommodate limited twist in sad vertical riser and said boom member and thereby facilitate engagement with said generally horizontally extending member. 4. The combination motive vehicle, three-point hitch, and dual bale lift of claim 3, wherein said baled matter further comprises a generally cylindrical bale of hay having a size and mass greater than that which could be generally manually lifted. 5. The combination motive vehicle, three-point hitch, and dual bale lift of claim 3, wherein said pivot further comprises a bearing. 6. The combination motive vehicle, three-point hitch, and dual bale lift of claim 3, wherein said actuator further comprises a hydraulic cylinder. 7. The combination motive vehicle, three-point hitch, and dual bale lift of claim 3, wherein said actuator controls a pivotal orientation of said boom member about said pivot and is thereby adapted to operatively selectively raise a first one of said first and second bale retainers while simultaneously lowering a second one of said first and second bale retainers. 8. The combination motive vehicle, three-point hitch, and dual bale lift of claim 3, wherein said bale retainer further comprises a main spear which is adapted to operatively pierce and support a large bale for lifting and transport, and to provide a majority of support for said large bale, said main spear passing through said frame and said boom member. 9. A fork-type dual bale lift adapted for use with hay, cotton and other similar bales, comprising: a frame having a generally horizontally extending member that terminates at distal ends, and a vertical riser rising from said generally horizontally extending member between said distal ends;a pivot that defines a pivotal axis and that is coupled to said vertical riser distal to said generally horizontally extending member;a boom member having a body and a first end terminating said body and a second end terminating said body distal to said first end, said boom member pivotally coupled to said frame through said pivot at a location intermediate to said first and second body ends;a first bale retainer adapted to operatively retain baled matter and coupled to said first boom member end and having a first strike plate defining a first limit of rotation of said boom member by operatively engaging with said frame adjacent a first end of a generally horizontally extending member when said boom member reaches said first limit of rotation;a second bale retainer adapted to operatively retain baled matter and coupled to said second boom member end and having a second strike plate defining a second limit of rotation of said boom member distal to said first limit of rotation by operatively engaging with said frame adjacent a second end of said generally horizontally extending member distal to said first end when said boom member reaches said second limit of rotation; anda motive actuator coupled to said frame and to said boom member intermediate said pivot and a one of said first and second bale retainers and adapted to operatively pivot said boom member about said pivotal axis;wherein each of said first and second strike plates further comprise a generally horizontal face, a generally vertical face, and an angled lip extending from said generally vertical face, said angled lip adapted to operatively accommodate limited twist in sad vertical riser and said boom member and thereby facilitate engagement with said generally horizontally extending member. 10. The fork-type dual bale lift of claim 9, wherein said actuator controls a pivotal orientation of said boom member about said pivot and is thereby adapted to operatively selectively raise a first one of said first and second bale retainers while simultaneously lowering a second one of said first and second bale retainers.