Abstract: An articulating work vehicle with a radially-pivoting lift arm, attached to a radially-pivoting base. The vehicle has a wheeled back section, on which an operator may stand, and a front, tool-carrying section, connected to the back section by an articulation joint. The front section has a system of actuators. These actuators cause a base tower to pivot relative to a frame, and a loader arm to pivot relative to the base tower. A tool, carried by the loader arm, may be self-levelling, and a bell crank allows the loader arm actuator's reaction point to float relative to the base tower.

Abstract: Bales made from successive charges of material packed against one another are readily separable into relatively discrete "flakes" corresponding to the charges of material from which the bale is built. By passing the bale over the top edge of an incline just before reaching disintegrating mechanism, the leading end flakes of the bale are induced to successively separate therefrom for advancement on down the incline and delivery into the disintegrating mechanism on a more or less individual basis, thereby promoting clog-free operation and even feeding.