Abstract: A folding bale spear system including a frame securable to a farm implement, particularly a tractor, left and right fork posts rotatable secured to the frame, left and right bale spears, one secured to the left fork post and one secured to the right fork post, and a system for rotation of the left and right fork posts about the frame such that in an open position, the bale spears are extended rearwardly from the frame, and in a closed position the bale spears cross each other and are rotated to a position substantially parallel to the frame.

Abstract: A hay spear accessory apparatus for providing a secure and fixed mounting point for attachments such as ropes, chains, cables and the like, the apparatus being generally comprised of a an open-ended sleeve member having an interior diameter sized for slidable engagement over the distal end of a hay spear, the sleeve having attachment mounting means fixedly connected to the outer surface thereof. The interior of the sleeve has a varied diameter so as to accommodate the receipt of hay spears of various diameters. The apparatus of the subject invention is designed for frictional engagement with a hay spear, but optional securing means are also provided which prevent axial displacement of the apparatus along the hay spear once mounted thereon.

Abstract: A bale sweep having a plate assembly mounted on a rearward side of an upright frame for attaching to a skid steer loader. The bale sweep includes a step mounted to a forward side of the upright frame for easy entry into the skid steer loader. A plurality of spaced apart parallel tines are secured to the upright frame and extend in a forward direction. A brace rod, provided for each tine, has an end secured to an upper portion of the upright frame and extends forwardly and downwardly toward a brace connector secured adjacent a forward end of each tine. The brace connector includes a faceplate facing the brace rod. The faceplate having an opening for slidably receiving a forward end of the brace rod. A tension spring is connected between the brace rod and face plate allowing each tine to move upwardly independent of one another.

Abstract: A bale lifting device for the lifting, moving, and handling of cargo and/or 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.

Abstract: A handling apparatus is provided that attaches to a three-point hitch of a farm implement/tractor. The apparatus allows for engaging multiple bales in a field while the tractor is driven in a forward direction. The bales are engaged while they are disposed beside the tractor such that they are in view of the operator. Once bales are engaged, the apparatus allows for rotating the bales from a position beside the tractor to a position behind the tractor. This allows, inter alia, the tractor to pass through openings (e.g., gates or doors) while carrying multiple bales.

Abstract: A bale handling apparatus attached to lifting arms of a tractor with a front-end loader having an axle removeably attached to the lifting arms and extending in a generally horizontal, forward direction. A support column is rotatably secured to the axle. A lower fixed jaw has one end fixedly secured to the support column and has an opposite end extending in a forward direction. An upper moveable jaw is also provided having one end extending in a forward direction, and has an opposite end hingedly secured to the support column at a position spaced apart from the fixed jaw. The lower jaw and upper jaw are positioned to face one another. Hydraulic means is provided for closing the upper jaw toward the lower jaw for gripping a round bale between the jaws and hydraulic means is provided for rotating the lower jaw and the upper jaw together about the axle.

Abstract: A hand truck has a pivoting wedge that initiates a fracture within a bale of hay, straw and similar materials and assists in retaining the material onto the truck. The wedge pivots out of the way when not in use. A toe consists of long slender tines which may serve the dual purpose of sliding under and/or piercing baled material. The toe is removable from the hand truck for shipping and storage purposes. A guard rack is also provided to provide enhanced support for loose material carried by the truck and to prevent the material from getting caught up in the tires or being dragged inadvertently. According to a method of the invention, the hand truck is engaged with the bale, the wedge used to separate a flake, and then the flake is transported on the hand truck.

Abstract: A hay loader is provided including a fixed frame mounted on a vehicle. Also included is a moving frame slidably mounted on the fixed frame. The moving frame is maintained vertically oriented while being shifted toward and away from the moving frame. Also included is at least one hydraulic cylinder connected between the fixed frame and the moving frame for selectively shifting the moving frame with respect to the fixed frame.

Abstract: A break-out attachment (2) configured for connection to a vehicle, such as a lift truck (20), for retrieving, transporting and releasing cotton bales. The break-out attachment comprises a shaft (24) rotatably mounted to a base frame (4), two lower horizontally spaced support arms (10, 12) extending outward from the shaft for supporting a cotton bale and an upper arm (6) extending from the shaft between the support arms for engaging the cotton bale. A rotary actuator (52) is coupled to the shaft for rotating the shaft and the three arms around the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The upper arm has a hydraulic cylinder (88) for telescoping toward and away from the shaft. The hydraulic cylinder provides more flexibility in the positioning of the truck and allows the operator to initially engage the cotton bale with only the upper arm, thus facilitating the process of retrieving the bale.

Abstract: Self-loading/unloading transport trailers include at least one rearwardly extending frame extension foot which is positioned below a rearward cross-brace of the cradle frame. During a loading/unloading operation, the rearwardly extending frame extension foot will engage the ground surface to cause the cradle member to pivot thereabout and physically lift the wheel assemblies out of ground-engagement. Continued pivotal movement of the cradle member about the ground-engaged frame extension foot will then allow the cross-brace to come into contact with the ground and will thereby cause the frame extension foot to become disengaged with, and the wheel assemblies to be further incrementally lifted above, the ground surface. A manually actuated mechanical brake assembly is provided in order to arrest rearward movement of the transport trailer during a loading/unloading operation and thereby allow the cradle frame to initially pivot about the journal axis of the wheel assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying large-diameter bales for attachment to a front end loader including a support frame for attachment to the loader, forwardly extending support arms for supporting a bale generally from underneath, first and second forwardly extending gripping arm spaced apart to receive a bale therebetween. Manipulation structure slides the gripping arms to vary the distance therebetween, so that the device may effectively handle bales of varying width or in lengthwise and endwise orientation.

Abstract: A tractor mountable handling device for handling baled material, such as giant round hay bales, employs an open center, open coil helical screw that is screwed into the bale, and a frame for holding the bale on the three-point hitch of the tractor or on a front loader thereof. The helical screw is rotated under power to engage the baled material, and is reversely rotated to release the material. The pitch of the screw is selected small enough so that the bale will not rotate and release itself from the helical screw under its own weight while being handled by the device.

Abstract: A self-loading transport for round hay includes at tilt platform hinged to a transport platform. Round bales of hay are captured onto the tilt platform when it is in an upright position. Then, movement of the transport forward will raise and level the tilt platform with a bale of hay on it. When the tilt platform is in its full erect position, the bale of hay will roll forward from the tilt platform onto the transport platform. A rocker on the tilt platform aids in the smooth motion of the tilt platform and the rear of the transport platform from the transport position to a tilt position with a tilt platform in upright position. When the bales have been transported to the desired location, they are unloaded from the transport by permitting individual trays carrying the bales in transport on the transport platform to rotate upon the transport frame.

Abstract: A tractor mounted accessory for handling round bales comprises an attachment frame adapted to receive a bar extending across the front of the tractor to support the accessory on the tractor. A pivoting frame is pivotally supported on the attachment frame and has a pair of round bale engaging forks extending forwardly therefrom. A hydraulic cylinder controls the pivotal relationship between the attachment frame and the pivoting frame and thereby controls the positioning of the forks relative to the tractor. The hydraulic cylinder is actuated by the hydraulic system of the tractor.

Abstract: A bale carrier assembly (10) for use with a tractor (11) having a substantially U-shaped frame (16), the bale carrier assembly (10) comprising: a mounting unit (22) secured to the tractor frame (16); a tine unit (23) pivotally connected to the mounting unit (22) and extending forwardly of the tractor (11) for engaging a bale (14); a thrust device (24) pivotally connected between the mounting unit (22) and the tine unit (23) at a location forwardly of the front end (12) of the tractor (11) for adjustably lifting and lowering the tine unit (23) to engage and disengage the bale (14); and a thrust resisting unit (26) for resisting the thrust upon the mounting unit (22), and connected between the tractor frame (16) and the mounting unit (22).

Abstract: A hay bale handling apparatus has a screw spear, which is rotatably supported by a frame, advanced into a round hay bale by a hydraulic motor, which is mounted on the frame, rotating the spear as a vehicle, which may be a tractor, for example, having a front loader, a backhoe, or a farm loader attached thereto, for example, supporting the frame is advanced. The frame has a bearing rack supported thereon with spaced picks of relatively short length engaging portions of the bale to provide stability to the bale when the screw spear has been advanced into the center of the bale. Three screw spears of the same length may be employed instead of the single screw spear with the spears being rotated in the same direction through a sprocket and chain arrangement with one of the sprockets attached to an output shaft of the hydraulic motor. This arrangement also may use the bearing rack.

Abstract: A device for cutting out and transporting a silage block, comprising a main frame which may be connected to a tractor and which comprises an at least approximately horizontal cross-beam, which carries a plurality of parallel tines and to which an upstanding main frame part is connected, which supports near its upper end an at least approximately horizontal frame member, along which a drive housing may be reciprocated. A sawing or cutting means is guided in this drive housing for upward and downward movement. The upstanding main frame part further supports a pressure frame underneath said frame member which extends near the track of the sawing or cutting means and which may be displaced by actuating means. The pressure frame comprises a plurality of pressure frame parts which are displaceable with respect to each other.

Abstract: An attachment is disclosed which is releasably securable to an agricultural bale-loading machine to convert the latter into a combined collector/loader.