1. Field
Example embodiments in general relate to a grabber accessory, and in a particular example to a grabber accessory configurable for use with an existing hay bale spear mounted on a prime mover such as a farm tractor.
2. Related Art
Traditionally, bale spears are employed for lifting, moving and repositioning five and six foot round hay bales around a farm complex. On cattle and horse farms, these round hay bales are typically placed in feed rings located about the farm to feed farm animals throughout the year. The conventional bale spear, while adept in holding the round hale bale for transport, is not typically adequate at repositioning the round hale bale over the feed ring for release within the feed ring. Often, the bale slips off the spear and damages or crushes part of the feed ring, potentially costing the owner time and money.
An example embodiment is directed to a grabber accessory configurable for attachment to a bale spear implement. The accessory includes a single, vertically-oriented stanchion, a pivotable arm having a proximate end attached to the stanchion to form a pivot point of the arm and a distal end extending generally transverse to the stanchion and terminating in a downward central claw, and a pair of downward extending tines, each tine mounted to the distal end of the arm in opposed spaced relation to the claw on either side thereof. The accessory further includes a hydraulic cylinder attached between an upper end of the stanchion and a surface of the arm between the proximate and distal ends, where the hydraulic cylinder is configured to raise and lower the arm under hydraulic control from a main hydraulic feed of a prime mover to which the bale spear implement is attached; a hollow tubular sleeve securing a lower portion of the stanchion therein, and a pair of vertically spaced clamping assemblies coupling the sleeve to cross member surfaces of the bale spear implement so as to secure the grabber accessory in an upright position adjacent a main spear of the bale spear implement extending outward therefrom in perpendicular relation to the stanchion.
Another example embodiment is directed to a grabber accessory having a single, vertically-oriented stanchion and a pivotable arm having a proximal end connected pivotally connected to the stanchion and a distal end including one or more downward extending tines. The accessory further includes a hydraulic cylinder attached between the stanchion and arm to raise and lower the arm under hydraulic control from a main hydraulic feed of a tractor to which the bale spear implement is attached, and a pair of vertically spaced clamping assemblies coupling a lower portion of the stanchion to the bale spear implement in an upright position.
Another example embodiment is directed to a grabber accessory for attachment to a prime mover. The accessory includes a stanchion, a pivotable arm having a proximate end attached to the stanchion to form a pivot point of the arm and a distal end extending generally transverse to the stanchion and terminating in at least one downward tine, a hydraulic cylinder attached between an upper end of the stanchion and a surface of the arm between the proximate and distal ends, the hydraulic cylinder configured to raise and lower the arm under hydraulic control from a main hydraulic feed of the prime mover, and a pair of vertically spaced clamping assemblies attaching a lower portion of the stanchion to frame member surfaces of the prime mover so as to secure the grabber accessory in an upright position.
Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawing, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein.
However, next to the main spear 165, a grabber accessory 100 is mounted on the bale spear implement 160. Specifically, a pair of vertically spaced clamping assemblies 140A and 140B attach a lower portion of a stanchion 101 of the accessory 100 to frame member surfaces 161 and 163 of the prime mover (i.e., tractor 200) so as to secure the grabber accessory 100 in an upright position.
Accessory 100 includes a single, main vertically-oriented stanchion 101. In an example, stanchion 101 may be fabricated from stainless steel. An arm 102 is pivotally connected thereto. The arm 102 may be made of steel and terminates at a distal end in a grabber or curved claw 103. This curved claw 103 will act with a main manipulating finger of the accessory 100 to help position and hold a hay bale over a final destination such as a feed ring for example, and prevent the bale from slipping off the main spear rod 165.
The arm 102 has a proximate end connected to the stanchion 101, and includes a pair of downward extending tines 120 at its distal end offset from the center claw 103. As shown, each tine 120 is mounted to a horizontal connector rod 121 which in turn is attached to a corresponding plate 122, the plates 122 sandwiching the arm 102/claw 103. Thus, the distal or terminating ends of the claw 103 and tines 120 (offset and/or slightly back from claw 103) are adapted to penetrate one of a round bale and a square hay bale.
A hydraulic cylinder 110 is attached between the stanchion 101 and arm 102. The hydraulic cylinder 110 is configured to raise and lower the arm 102 under hydraulic control from a main hydraulic feed 105 of the prime mover. Specifically, supply hoses 104 carry hydraulic fluid between a source header at main feed 105 to hydraulic cylinder 110, so as to actuate movement (up/down, articulation, etc.) of the stanchion 101 and arm 102 at multiple pivot points. Details of this will be seen in further detail below.
Accessory 100 optionally includes a hollow tubular sleeve 106 securing a lower portion of the stanchion 101 therein. Use of the sleeve 106 permits the accessory 100 to be height-adjustable to handle both round hay bales and square hay-bale cubes (such as 4′'4′×4′ bundles, or 64 cu ft). Specifically, the sleeve 106 may include bores which align with a through bore in a lower part of stanchion 101, so that the stanchion 101 is height adjustable within the sleeve 106. This shall be seen in more detail hereafter.
Clamping assemblies 140A and 140B are the sole means of securing the grabber accessory 100 to the bale spear implement 160. This simplistic arrangement and fastidious connection scheme lends itself to quick retrofitting to any prime mover that has frame surfaces. This will be shown in further detail below.
Referring to
At pivot point 109, a first end of cylinder 110 terminates in a flange 113 which is connected to an ear 112 of stanchion 101 via fastening means. In an example, fastening means can include washer 114 receiving bolt 115 therethrough and tightened by a lock nut 116 (nut with cotter/lock pin) to secure one end of cylinder 110 to the stanchion 101. Similarly at pivot point 117, the other or second end of cylinder 110 terminates in a flange 119 (on the end of a reciprocating rod 111, which in turn is connected to an internal piston within cylinder 110, as is known). Flange 119 is connected to an ear 118 of arm 102 via fastening means. In an example, fastening means includes a washer (not shown) receiving bolt 128 therethrough and tightened by a lock nut 129 (nut with cotter/lock pin) to secure the other end of cylinder 110 to the arm 102.
As best shown in
In this example, the plates 122 sandwich the arm 102/claw 103, as the fastener means comprises bolts 124 (inserted through corner bores 123 in plates 122), washers 125 and nuts 126 which secure the plates 122 (and attached rods 121 with tines) around arm 102. Thus, the distal or terminating ends of the claw 103 and tines 120 (offset and/or slightly back from claw 103) are adapted to penetrate one of a round bale and a square hay bale. Although an arm 102 with retrofitted tines 120 (the left tine 120 of which is fully shown), a single piece arm with integral tines 120 is contemplated for manufacture as well.
As best seen in
Clamping assembly 140A (upper) includes an upper plate 141. Plate 141 includes corner holes 143 for receiving a pair of U-bolts 145 therethrough as shown. The plate 141 is adapted to bear against (cross member) frame surface 161 of the prime mover 200/bale spear implement 160. As can be seen, the U-bolts 145 contact an upper portion of the sleeve 106, so as to engage the sleeve 106 (and hence stanchion 101) to the prime mover 200/bale spear implement 160. Each U-bolt 145 a threaded ends which extend through corresponding corner pairs of holes 143 and are secured by fasteners 147 so as to torque the (cross member) frame surface 161 of the prime mover 200/bale spear implement 160 between the sleeve 106 and upper plate 141.
Similarly, clamping assembly 140B (lower) includes a lower plate 142 with corner holes 144 for receiving a pair of U-bolts 146 therethrough, as shown. The plate 142 is adapted to bear against (cross member) frame surface 163 of the prime mover 200/bale spear implement 160. As can be seen, the U-bolts 146 contact a lower portion of the sleeve 106, so as to engage the sleeve 106 (and hence stanchion 101) to the prime mover 200/bale spear implement 160. Each U-bolt 146 a threaded ends which extend through corresponding corner pairs of holes 144 and are secured by fasteners 148 so as to torque the (cross member) frame surface 163 of the prime mover 200/bale spear implement 160 between the sleeve 106 and lower plate 142.
Additionally, the operator may employ one or more metal shims 149. As shown in
The sleeve 106 is in fact a hollow tubular member;
As best shown in
As shown in
Accordingly, it is envisioned that use of the grabber accessory 100 with an existing bale spear implement on a prime mover such as a tractor would greatly reduce damage to hay bale holders and feeders, pickup trucks and/or trailers during placement of the bales within them. Use of the grabber accessory 100 also may substantially reduce the time spent repositioning the hay bales or time spent adjusting feeders as the bale is loaded into the feeder, for example.
The example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. The example grabber accessory is not limited to incorporation or use with an existing bail spear implement or accessory of a prime mover such as a tractor. The grabber accessory 100 can be configured for attachment to another prime mover such as a bobcat or back hoe, or to another implement for various applications. In one example, grabber accessory 100 may be configured for installation on a front end loader bucket as a grapple for picking up loose materials and brush, securing these materials during transport. In another example the grabber accessory 100 may be installed on pallet forks to control and secure a load as the load is moved for drop off at another location. In a further example the grabber accessory 100 can be mounted to a skid steer loaded for the above-noted uses of securing a load during transport, or directly installed on a compact tractor with appropriate hydraulic hook-ups or to a farm tractor up to 150 hp, for example, for use in securing a load or as a grapple to accumulate brush and debris. Such variations are not to be regarded as departure from the example embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included in the following claims.
The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/491,839 to the inventor, filed May 31, 2011, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61491839 | May 2011 | US |