Bale lifting device for the handling of bales of fibrous material

Abstract

A bale lifting device for the handling of bales of fibrous material such as hay. The bale lifting device having a pair of generally facing hydraulic cylinders configured for moving a pair of forks from a close inner position to a spaced apart outer position.

1 . A bale lifting device for the handling of bales of fibrous material, said bale lifting device comprising:
 a frame configured for attachment to a farm implement via a farm implement attachment portion, said frame comprising at least one rail having a center, a first end and a second end, a first end plate attaching to said first end, and a second end plate attaching to said second end;   a first carriage configured for slideable attachment on said first rail, said first carriage having a first fork extending there-from generally perpendicular to said rail;   a second carriage configured for slideable attachment on said first rail, said second carriage having a second fork extending there-from generally perpendicular to said rail;   a first hydraulic cylinder configured for moving said first carriage from a first position near said rail first end to a third position near said rail center;   a second hydraulic cylinder configured for moving said second carriage from a second position near said rail second end to a fourth position near said rail center; and   a hydraulic control system for controlling the operation of said first and second hydraulic cylinders, said hydraulic control system configured for simultaneously moving the first and second carriages from their first and second respective positions to their third and fourth respective positions and vice versa.   
   
   
       2 . The bale lifting device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said forks comprise at least one generally perpendicular flange configured for assisting in the lifting of said bales. 
   
   
       3 . The bale lifting device of  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises a second rail likewise having a center, a first end and a second end, said first end plate also attaching to said second rail first end, and said second end plate also attaching to said second rail second end. 
   
   
       4 . The bale lifting device of  claim 3 , wherein said first and second rails are attached to said first and second ends so that said first and second rails are generally parallel to one another. 
   
   
       5 . The bale lifting device of  claim 3 , wherein said first and second carriages are configured for slideable attachment on said first and second rails. 
   
   
       6 . The bale lifting device of  claim 3 , wherein said first carriage has a first fork extending there-from generally perpendicular to said rails and said second carriage has a second fork extending there-from generally perpendicular to said rails. 
   
   
       7 . The bale lifting device of  claim 1 , wherein said ability to move into the third and fourth positions allows said bale lifting device to grasp and pick up cargo as small as portions of said hay bales. 
   
   
       8 . The bale lifting device of  claim 1 , wherein said ability to move into the first and second positions allows the bale lifting device to grasp and pick up items as large as cargo selected from the group consisting of: a stack of standard hale bales, round bales, 3′×3′ mid-size bales, 3′×4′ mid-size bales and ′4×4′ “ton-sized” bales. 
   
   
       9 . A bale lifting device for the handling of bales of fibrous material, said bale lifting device comprising:
 a frame configured for attachment to a farm implement via a farm implement attachment portion, said frame comprising a pair of generally parallel rails having centers, first ends and second ends, a first end plate attaching to said first ends and a second end plate attaching to said second ends;   a first carriage configured for slideable attachment on said first and second rails, said first carriage having a first fork extending there-from generally perpendicular to said rails;   a second carriage configured for slideable attachment on said first and second rails, said second carriage having a second fork extending there-from generally perpendicular to said rails;   a first hydraulic cylinder configured for moving said first carriage from a first position near said rail first ends to a third position near said rail centers;   a second hydraulic cylinder configured for moving said second carriage from a second position near said rail second ends to a fourth position near said rail centers; and   a hydraulic control system for controlling the operation of said first and second hydraulic cylinders, said hydraulic control system configured for simultaneously moving the first and second carriages from their first and second respective positions to their third and fourth respective positions and vice versa.   
   
   
       10 . The bale lifting device of  claim 9 , wherein each of said forks comprise at least one generally perpendicular flange configured for assisting in the lifting of said bales. 
   
   
       11 . The bale lifting device of  claim 9 , wherein said ability to move into the third and fourth positions allows said bale lifting device to grasp and pick up cargo as small as portions of said hay bales. 
   
   
       12 . The bale lifting device of  claim 9 , wherein said ability to move into the first and second positions allows the bale lifting device to grasp and pick up items as large as cargo selected from the group consisting of: a stack of standard hale bales, round bales, 3′×3′ mid-size bales, 3′×4′ mid-size bales and ′4×4′ “ton-sized” bales. 
   
   
       13 . A bale lifting device for the handling of bales of fibrous material, said bale lifting device comprising:
 a frame configured for attachment to a farm implement via a farm implement attachment portion, said frame comprising a pair of generally parallel rails having centers, first ends and second ends, a first end plate attaching to said first ends and a second end plate attaching to said second ends;   a first carriage configured for slideable attachment on said first and second rails, said first carriage having a first fork extending there-from generally perpendicular to said rails, said first fork comprising at least one generally perpendicular first flange configured for assisting in the lifting of said bales;   a second carriage configured for slideable attachment on said first and second rails, said second carriage having a second fork extending there-from generally perpendicular to said rails, said second fork comprising at least one generally perpendicular second flange configured for assisting in the lifting of said bales;   a first hydraulic cylinder configured for moving said first carriage from a first position near said rail first ends to a third position near said rail centers;   a second hydraulic cylinder configured for moving said second carriage from a second position near said rail second ends to a fourth position near said rail centers; and   a hydraulic control system for controlling the operation of said first and second hydraulic cylinders, said hydraulic control system configured for simultaneously moving the first and second carriages from their first and second respective positions to their third and fourth respective positions and vice versa.   
   
   
       14 . The bale lifting device of  claim 13 , wherein said ability to move into the third and fourth positions allows said bale lifting device to grasp and pick up cargo as small as portions of said hay bales. 
   
   
       15 . The bale lifting device of  claim 13 , wherein said ability to move into the first and second positions allows the bale lifting device to grasp and pick up items as large as cargo selected from the group consisting of: a stack of standard hale bales, round bales, 3′×3′ mid-size bales, 3′×4′ mid-size bales and ′4×4′ “ton-sized” bales.