Self propelled bale handling apparatus

Claim 2

Bale handling apparatus comprising: a. a steerable, self-propelled vehicle including a frame, an elongated horizontal bed supported on said frame, said bed having an upper surface, a front end and a rear end, a shallow bale conveyor channel on said bed upper surface and extending longitudinally thereof from said bed front end to a position spaced forwaRdly of said bed rear end, an endless conveyor chain extending along said channel, reversible drive means for driving said channel conveyor chain along said channel; b. a bale pick-up header comprising an elongated trough member having a front end, a rear end, a floor and upwardly projecting spaced apart side rails extending therealong, said header being mounted on said vehicle frame for vertical pivotting with said trough member rear end adjacent said bed front end, an endless conveyor chain extending along said trough member floor and operable connected to said drive means for simultaneous movement with said channel conveyor chain, c. a pair of spaced apart support members mounted laterally of said trough member front end and supporting same for movement adjacent the ground and projecting forwardly and downwardly of said frame bed; d. a pair of forwardly projecting gathering points mounted on said trough member front end adjacent said respective side rails, said gathering points tapering laterally outwardly of said side rails and forming a funnel for directing hay bales onto said trough member front end, said gathering points being pivotally mounted to said trough member front end for folding rearwardly thereof; and e. a conveyor extension member adapted for operative engagement with said header front end and extending the reach of said header for off-loading.

Claim 3

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said support members mounted on said trough member front end are rotatably and swivally mounted wheels.

Claim 4

A bale handling apparatus comprising: a. a steerable, self-propelled vehicle including a frame, an elongated horizontal bed supported on said frame, said bed having an upper surface, a front end and a rear end, a shallow bale conveyor channel on said bed upper surface and extending longitudinally thereof from said bed front end to a position spaced forwardly of said bed rear end, an endless conveyor chain extending along said channel, reversible drive means for driving said channel conveyor chain along said channel; b. a bale pick-up header comprising an elongated trough member having a front end, a rear end, a rear end, a floor and upwardly projecting spaced apart side rails extending therealong, said header being mounted on said vehicle frame for vertical pivotting with said trough member rear end adjacent said bed front end, an endless conveyor chain extending along said trough member floor and operably connected to said drive means for simultaneous movement with said channel conveyor chain; c. a pair of spaced apart support members mounted laterally of said trough member front end and supporting same for movement adjacent the ground and projecting forwardly and downwardly of said frame bed; d. a pair of forwardly projecting gathering points mounted on said trough member front end adjacent said respective side rails, said gathering points tapering laterally outwardly of said side rails and forming a funnel for directing hay bales onto said trough member front end; and e. a conveyor extension member for off-loading adapted for engagement with said header front end, said extension member including an endless conveyor chain, and manually operable means for selectively engaging said extension conveyor chain with said header conveyor chain.

Claim 5

A bale handling apparatus comprising: a. a steerable, self-propelled vehicle including a frame, an elongated horizontal bed supported on said frame, said bed having an upper surface, a front end and a rear end, a shallow bale conveyor channel on said bed upper surface and extending longitudinally thereof from said bed front end to a position spaced forwardly of said bed rear end, an endless conveyor chain extending along said channel, reversible drive means for driving said channel conveyor chain along said channel; b. a bale pick-up header comprising an elongated trough member having a front end, a rear end, a rear end, a floor and upwardly projecting spaced apart side rails extending therealong, said header being mounted on said vehicle frame for vertical pivotting with said trough member rear end adjacent said bed front end, an endless conveyor chain extending along said trough member floor and operably connected to said drive means for simultaneous movement with said channel conveyor chain; c. a pair of spaced apart support members mounted laterally of said trough member front end and supporting same for movement adjacent the ground and projecting forwardly and downwardly of said frame bed; d. a pair of forwardly projecting gathering points mounted on said trough member front end adjacent said respective side rails, said gathering points tapering laterally outwardly of said side rails and forming a funnel for directing hay bales onto said trough member front end; and e. a conveyor extension member for off-loading adapted for engagement with said header front end, said extension member including an endless conveyor chain, and manually operable means for selectively engaging said extension conveyor chain with said header conveyor chain.

Claim 6

The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said manually operable means includes a removable drive chain and chain tightening structure.