Round bale transporter

Claim 2

In a bale transporter, in combination: a generally horizontal frame; a shaft pivoted in said frame about a horizontal axis; a pair of arms pivoted at first ends near the opposite ends of said shaft, respectively; bale piercing axle means at the ends of said arms directed toward one another; first hydraulic means for causing pivotal movement of said arms toward and away from one another; and second hydraulic means, including a lost motion mechanism, for causing pivotal movement of said shaft through a range of greater than 90°, so that said arms may move from a position below the horizontal to a position beyond the vertical, said lost motion mechanism including; a crank arm secured to said shaft and having a pair of opposed abutments angularly spaced about a center; link means pivoted at one end to said crank arm at said center; a hydraulic actuating member movable generally orthogonally with respect to said shaft; and means pivotally connecting said link means to said actuating member in a position to engage either of said abutments as determined by the pivotal movement of said link means with respect to said crank arm.

Claim 3

In a bale transporter, in combination: a generally horizontal frame; a shaft pivoted in said frame about a horizontal axis; a pair of arms pivoted at first ends near the opposite ends of said shaft, respectively; bale piercing axle means at the ends of said arms directed toward one another; first hydraulic means for causing pivotal movement of said arms toward and away from one another; and second hydraulic means including a lost motion mechanism for causing pivotal movement of said shaft through a range of greater than 90°, so that said arms may move from a position below the horizontal to a position beyond the vertical, said lost motion mechanism including; a shaft to be driven in pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis; a crank arm secured to said shaft for movement unitary therewith; a link pivoted at one end to said crank arm for movement about a second axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis; a drive member movable orthogonally with respect to said axis and pivoted to the other end of said link for movement about a third axis spaced from and parallel to said first and second axes; opposed abutments carried by said crank arm and angularly displaced about said second axis; and means carried by said link for movement between said abutments, whereby movement of said drive member initially causes said link to pivot with respect to said crank arm until the last named means engages one of said abutments, and further movement of said drive member in the same direction causes movement of said crank arm and shaft about said first axis.

Claim 4

In a bale transporter, in combination: a generally horizontal frame; a shaft pivoted in said frame about a horizontal axis; a pair of arms pivoted at first ends near the opposite ends of said shaft, respectively; bale piercing axle means at the ends of said arms directed toward one another; first hydraulic means for causing pivotal movement of said arms toward and away from one another; and second hydraulic means including a lost motion mechanism for causing pivotal movement of said shaft through a range of greater than 90°, so that said arms may move from a position below the horizontal to a position beyond the vertical, said lost motion mechanism including; a shaft to be driven in pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis; a crank arm secured to said shaft for movement unitary therewith; a link pivoted at one end to said crank arm for movement about a second axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis; a drive member movable orthogonally with respect to said axis and pivoted to the other end of said link for movement about a third axis spaced from and parallel to said first and second axes; opposed abutments carried by said crank arm and angularly displaced about said second axis; and means carried by said link for movement between said abutments, whereby movement of said drive member initially causes said link to pivot with respect to said crank arm until the last named means engages one of said abutments, and further movement of said drive member in the same direction causes movement of said crank arm and shaft about said first axis.