Patents by Inventor Thomas B. Maclay

Thomas B. Maclay has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7347659
    Abstract: An L-shaped platform having a vertical bale gripping frame and a horizontal bale support deck is mounted on a transport vehicle for rotation through 90° from a transport position to a bale pick-up position. In the pick-up position, tines on the gripping frame engage the top of the bale and hold the bale with the support deck in contact with an adjacent side surface. The platform is rotated to return to the transport position with the bale being supported by the support deck. The support deck includes a cross conveyor for discharging the bale laterally for stock feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas B Maclay
  • Patent number: 7121783
    Abstract: An L-shaped platform (11) having a vertical bale gripping frame (12) and a horizontal bale support deck (13) is mounted on a transport vehicle for rotation through 90° from a transport position to a bale pick-up position. In the pick-up position, tines (17) on the gripping frame (12) engage the top of the bale (B) and hold the bale (B) with the support deck (13) in contact with an adjacent side surface. The platform (11) is rotated to return to the transport position with the bale (B) being supported by the support deck (13). The support deck (13) includes a cross conveyor (21) for discharging the bale (B) laterally for stock feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas B. Maclay
  • Patent number: 6764274
    Abstract: A large bale loading, transporting and unloading method and apparatus including a wheeled vehicle having a flatbed with a longitudinal conveyor and a cross-bed conveyor for unloading bales laterally from the side of the flatbed. A tine carrying frame or bed is movable to a vertical position against a bale stack and bale engaging tines are actuated to hold the bales against the frame. The frame is returned to the horizontal position for either transport or lateral unloading. In one embodiment the longitudinal and cross-bed conveyors and the tine structures are carried on a flatbed beneath the surface thereof. In a second embodiment the longitudinal conveyor and tine structures are mounted on top of the bed. Apparatus is disclosed for selectively cutting off flakes or segments of the bale as it is discharged laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas B. Maclay
  • Patent number: 6695560
    Abstract: A large bale loading, transporting and unloading method and apparatus including a wheeled vehicle having a flatbed with a longitudinal conveyor and a cross-bed conveyor for unloading bales laterally from the side of the flatbed. A tine carrying frame or bed is movable to a vertical position against a bale stack and bale engaging tines are actuated to hold the bales against the frame. The frame is returned to the horizontal position for either transport or lateral unloading. In one embodiment the longitudinal and cross-bed conveyors and the tine structures are carried on a flatbed beneath the surface thereof. In a second embodiment the longitudinal conveyor and tine structures are mounted on top of the bed. Apparatus is disclosed for selectively cutting off flakes or segments of the bale as it is discharged laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas B. Maclay
  • Patent number: 6540464
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with a transport vehicle having a vehicle support frame for loading, transfering, and unloading bales of hay or straw and the like. The apparatus comprises a tilting frame hingedly supported by the vehicle support frame and a loader hingedly attached to and supported by the tilting frame. The tilting frame has a side member and pivots about a first pivot axis oriented generally horizontally and transverse to the vehicle and at right angles to the side members. The loader pivots about a second pivot axis proximate to and oriented generally parallel to side member of the frame. The loader has a plurality of selectively actuated bale engaging time structures for securing bales to the loader. Each bale engaging time structure has at least one tine movable between a retracted position and a bale engaging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas B. Maclay
  • Publication number: 20020048501
    Abstract: A large bale loading, transporting and unloading method and apparatus including a wheeled vehicle having a flatbed with a longitudinal conveyor and a cross-bed conveyor for unloading bales laterally from the side of the flatbed. A tine carrying frame or bed is movable to a vertical position against a bale stack and bale engaging tines are actuated to hold the bales against the frame. The frame is returned to the horizontal position for either transport or lateral unloading. In one embodiment the longitudinal and cross-bed conveyors and the tine structures are carried on a flatbed beneath the surface thereof. In a second embodiment the longitudinal conveyor and tine structures are mounted on top of the bed. Apparatus is disclosed for selectively cutting off flakes or segments of the bale as it is discharged laterally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas B. Maclay
  • Publication number: 20020041799
    Abstract: A large bale loading, transporting and unloading method and apparatus including a wheeled vehicle having a flatbed with a longitudinal conveyor and a cross-bed conveyor for unloading bales laterally from the side of the flatbed. A tine carrying frame or bed is movable to a vertical position against a bale stack and bale engaging tines are actuated to hold the bales against the frame. The frame is returned to the horizontal position for either transport or lateral unloading. In one embodiment the longitudinal and cross-bed conveyors and the tine structures are carried on a flatbed beneath the surface thereof. In a second embodiment the longitudinal conveyor and tine structures are mounted on top of the bed. Apparatus is disclosed for selectively cutting off flakes or segments of the bale as it is discharged laterally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas B. Maclay
  • Patent number: 6328520
    Abstract: A large bale loading, transporting and unloading method and apparatus including a wheeled vehicle having a flatbed with a longitudinal conveyor and a cross-bed conveyor for unloading bales laterally from the side of the flatbed. A tine carrying frame or bed is movable to a vertical position against a bale stack and bale engaging tines are actuated to hold the bales against the frame. The frame is returned to the horizontal position for either transport or lateral unloading. In one embodiment the longitudinal and cross-bed conveyors and the tine structures are carried on a flatbed beneath the surface thereof. In a second embodiment the longitudinal conveyor and tine structures are mounted on top of the bed. Apparatus is disclosed for selectively cuffing off flakes or segments of the bale as it is discharged laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas B. Maclay