Patent Application
20180139904
The invention relates generally to an agricultural implement. More specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to an agricultural implement for spreading particulate material. Even more specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a bale spreader comprising one or more rotors for chopping and spreading particulate material.
Bale spreaders are known in the art. Existing spreaders either do not chop the product, or they are limited in the amount of product that may be chopped and how fine the bale is chopped. Similarly, existing bale spreaders can be long, balky, and unbalanced, resulting in them being difficult to operate and maneuver in closed or confined spaces. The configuration of existing bale spreaders can also create issues and additional strain on the power source, caused by the excessive length of hydraulic lines and/or a large number of bends created in routing the hydraulic lines.
Also, existing spreaders that utilize spinners generally provide a limited distance within which the product is spread during operation. Furthermore, after chopping and spreading a bale, similar bale spreaders require manual labor to clean out any residual product remaining on or in the spreader. As a result, a need exists for a device that addresses these deficiencies.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a bale spreader capable of chopping and spreading a particulate material, such as hay or straw, saw dust, wood chips, corn fodder, which overcomes the deficiencies in the art.
Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to improve on and/or overcome the deficiencies in the art.
It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader comprising a base with left, right, front, and back edges, and opposing first and second support members that extend from the front edge, wherein one or more rotors are operably positioned between the left and right support members.
It is yet another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader comprising one or more rotors operably positioned between a first and second support member, wherein at least one of the one or more rotors comprises a double sprocket and the one or more rotors are interconnected by one or more drive chains.
It is a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader wherein the base comprises a left side rail extending from the left edge, a right side rail extending from the right edge, and a rear side rail extending from the rear edge.
It is still a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader wherein the one or more rotors include a top rotor and a bottom rotor, wherein said rotors are oriented horizontally between the first and second support members.
It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader wherein the one or more rotors are staggered relative to one another along a generally vertical axis.
It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader with a flop bar removably attached to the rear edge of the base and/or the rear side rail, wherein the flop bar is configured to extend in a generally vertical direction to secure a particulate material on or within the bale spreader.
It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader wherein the one or more rotors comprise a plurality of flail hammers and/or knives that are removably attached to the rotors.
It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader comprising an attachment member/plate configured to removably secure the bale spreader to an agricultural implement, such as a tractor or skid loader. Said attachment member may be attached to the left, right, and/or rear rails of the bale spreader.
It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader comprising a plurality of tines extending from the left, right, and/or rear rails. Said tines preferably attached to the rail opposite the attachment member/plate. The tines may also include a screen member extending between adjacent tines and configured aid in the loading and securing of loose particulate material(s).
It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader wherein the top and bottom rotors are staggered relative to a generally vertical axis.
It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader comprising an apron including a pintle chain configured to feed particulate material into/toward the rotors or away from the rotors. The apron may include bars and paddles that are configured to aid in feeding the particulate material into the rotors.
It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader comprising a rubber vacuum attached to a hood extending between the first and second support members. The vacuum may be configured to hold the vacuum effect created by the rotation of the rotors.
It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide an agricultural implement comprising a base with a left, right, front, and rear edge, wherein first and second support members are positioned proximate to the front edge of the base and extend in a generally vertical direction. The bale spreader further comprises top and bottom rotors that are operatively positioned between the first and second support members. A double sprocket or a whole hub unit is operatively attached to the bottom rotor and configured to translate rotational movement of the drive sprocket to the sprocket attached to the top rotor.
It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to provide a bale spreader comprising a base with a left, right, front, and rear edge, wherein opposing first and second support members are positioned proximate to the front edge of the base and extend in a generally vertical direction. A rear rail may extend from the rear edge of the base, and a flop bar may be removably attached to the rear rail. The flop bar may be configured to secure particulate material within the spreader. The bale spreader further comprises a rotor operatively positioned between the first and second support members.
Accordingly, one aspect of the invention includes an agricultural implement knows as a bale spreader. The bale spreader may include an attachment member or plate configured to removably secure the spreader to a tractor or skid loader. The bale spreader includes a base with rails extending vertically at the perimeter of the left, right and rear edges of the base. Opposing first and second support members are positioned proximate to the front edge of the base and extend in a generally vertical direction. Operatively positioned between the first and second support members are one or more rotors. The rotor(s) may include a plurality of removably attached flail knives or hammers configured to chop or shred a particulate material and discharge the shredded material as the rotor(s) are rotated.
Furthermore, the spreader may include a plurality of tines extending from the edge or the base or the rail(s). The tines may be configured to assist in picking up a bale of straw or other particulate material to be place in the spreader. The tractor or skid loader that is attached to the bale spreader may rotate or manipulate the spreader so that the tines my by slid under the bale, and then as the spreader is rotated back to the upright position, the bale will be placed/secured within the spreader. The tines are typically evenly spaced along the edge of the base or rail, and extend in a generally outward and upward direction relative to the center of the spreader. The tines may also include one or more screen members that can be placed between adjacent tines or attached independently to any of the rails. A flop bar may also be removably attached to the rail(s) to secure particulate material within the bale spreader.
However, the present invention also includes a hydraulic system including one or more hydraulic motors configured to rotate the rotor(s) and/or the pintle chain of the apron. The routing of the lines of the hydraulic system has been optimized to reduce the length of the hydraulic hoses/lines, and to limit the bends and kinks in the lines. The size of the lines and fittings have also been optimized to allow the hydraulic system to operate at a cooler temperature. A case drain has also been added to the hydraulic system to reduce the stresses and pressures on the hydraulic motor(s)/system.
These and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention is not to be limited to or by these objects, features and advantages. No single embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage.
Various embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention. Figures represented herein are not limitations to the various embodiments according to the invention and are presented for exemplary illustration of the invention.
The invention is generally directed, but not exclusively, towards a bale spreader 10 comprising one or more rotors for chopping and spreading particulate material.
Referring to the Figures, a bale spreader 10 comprising a base or bed 12 and one or more rails 14, 16, and 18 is shown.
A number of other items may be attached to the base 12 and/or rails 14, 16, and 18. For example, the bale spreader may include one or more tine members 22 extending from the right rail 14. While not shown in the Figures, it should be understood that the tine members 22 may be attached to the left rail 16 and the rear rail 18. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of tine members 22 extend vertically from the right rail 22. The tines 22 may extend straight up from the rail 14, or the tines 22 may be configured to extend in an upward and outward direction, wherein they are angled away from the base. For example, the tine 22 may be include an interior angle of approximately 100 degrees relative to the base 12. Alternatively, the tine 22 may have an exterior angle of 85 degrees relative the plane created by the base 12. The tines 22 may be evenly spaced along the rail 14, or they may be spaced at varying increments along the rail 14 to serve a specific purpose. In an example embodiment, the tines 22 may be spaced approximately sixteen inches (16″) apart. The tines 22 are configured to aid in picking up a bale or other particulate material. For example, when the bale spreader 10 is attached to a farm implement, such as a skid loader or tractor, the bale spreader may be rotated so that the tines 22 may be utilized as forks to pick up a bale. The tines 22 may be slid under the bale, and then when the bale spreader 10 is rotated back to the upright position, the bale or other particulate material will be placed on the base or bed 12 of the bale spreader. This can greatly reduce the amount of physical exertion required by a person to load a large bale of straw/hay or other particulate material into the bale spreader 10. The outward angle of the tines 22 may also serve to funnel a bale or particulate material down to the base 12, so that it may be fed into the rotors 40 and 42.
The tines 22 may also include one or more screen members or panels 24 inserted between adjacent tines 22. The screen member 24 may also be constructed as a solid member that extends the length of the rail 14 and is attached to the outer surface of the tines 22. The screen member(s) may be configured to aid in the picking up of a bale with the tines 22, and it may also aid in preventing the loss of particulate material that may have otherwise fallen off the bale spreader 10. While not shown in the Figures, it should be understood that the screen member(s) 24 may also be attached to and extend from the left rail 16 and the rear rail 18. For example, if the screen member 24 were added to the left rail 16 of the embodiment depicted in
As discussed above, the bale spreader 10 may be attached to a skid loader, tractor, front-end loader, or other similar agricultural implement/vehicle. One method of attaching a bale spreader to an agricultural vehicle is shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/834,083, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The bale spreader 10 may include an attachment plate 26. The attachment plate may be attached to the base 12 or the rails 14, 16, and 18. In
The rails 14, 16, and/or 18 may include a flop bar 20. The flop bar may be removably attached to the rail(s) 14, 16, and/or 18, and extend in a generally vertical direction. The flop bar 20 may be a metal frame, tubing, or metal bars. The bars may comprise from a metal alloy, aluminum, carbon fiber, polycarbonate material, or other material that provides a similar rigidity. The flop bar 20 can prevent a bale or other particulate material from rolling off the base 12 of the spreader 10.
As shown in
The rotors 40 and 42 may include removably attached flail knives, hammers, blades, or teeth 44. The hammers 44 are configured to chop and/or shred bale or other particulate material as the rotors 40 and 42 are rotated. The flail hammers 44 may also be rotatably/swingingly attached or stationary on the rotors 40 and 42. The hammers 44 are likely to become worn over time, therefore the hammers 44 are removably attached to allow the user to quickly and easily change worn hammers 44 and replace them with new ones. This also allows for the knives/hammers 44 to be switched out to perform a specific chopping or shredding operation. For example, a thicker and/or bulkier hammer 44 may be installed to chop/shred a tougher or heavier particulate material. Alternatively, a sharper knife may be installed to more finely chop a particulate material.
The rotors 30 and 32 are connected to and driven by an auxiliary hydraulic system of the agricultural implement/vehicle that the bale spreader 10 is attached to. The bale spreader may include a hydraulic motor 61 attached to a drive sprocket 58 that is configured to drive the rotors 40 and 42. In one embodiment, the hydraulic motor 61/system 60 is positioned behind or next to the drive sprocket 58 shown in
When connected to the auxiliary hydraulic system of a skid loader or other farm implement, hydraulic oil will be pumped through the hydraulic system 60, which will rotate a drive sprocket or pulley 58. It should be understood that a sprocket and chain or a belt and pulley system may be used interchangeably to rotate the rotors 40 and 42. The drive sprocket 58 may be connected to the rotors 40 and 42 by one or more chains or belts. For example, as shown in
Referring to
A deflector shield 36 may be pivotally connected to the bottom of the front wall 29. The deflector shield 36 may include a support arm 38 that allows for the angle of the deflector shield to be adjusted. For example, if the user intends to spread the particulate material outward, the support arm 38 may be fully extended to position the deflector shield 36 to be generally perpendicular to the ground. However, if the user intends to spread the particulate material in a smaller or more defined area, the deflector shield may be lowered to direct the particulate material in a more downward direction as it exits the cavity defined by the support members 30 and 32 and the hood 28.
As shown in
The pintle chain 64 may be driven by the same hydraulic system 60 that rotates the rotors 40 and 42 using an electric over hydraulic control. However, an additional hydraulic motor may be utilized to rotate the pulley or sprocket system of the apron 62 independent of the rotors 40 and 42. As the sprocket(s) of the apron 62 are rotated, the bars or rods 68 are dragged along the top surface of the base 12 toward the rotors 40 and 42. The bars 68 are configured to move a bale or particulate material that is placed on the base 12 of the spreader 10 proximate to the rear rail 18 toward the rotors 40 and 42, wherein the bale or particulate material may be chopped and discharged out the opposite end of the spreader 10. The base 12 of the spreader 10 may include a plurality of apertures or holes 66 configured to allow loose particulate material to fall through the base, reducing the physical labor required of the user to clean out the bale spreader 10. For example, during operation, as a bale is fed into the rotors 40 and 42, small amount of loose particulate material may become separated from the bale prior to being fed into the rotors 40 and 42. The apertures 66 will allow the loose material to fall through the base to the ground, rather than collecting on top of the base and building up over time. The apertures 66 may be round, oval, elongated, or polygonal. These cutouts may be used for loading visibility of the user to see the bale while the unit is tipped over.
Shown in
A bale spreader including one or more rotors for chopping and spreading particulate material has thus been described. The present invention contemplates numerous variations, options and alternatives, and is not to be limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Other changes are considered to be part of the present invention.
