Hay Baler Trailer

Bales of hay are different in shape and size. Presently there are the small bales which are either round or square in shape which can be handled by a single person. On the other hand, there are also large round bales, perhaps 6 to 8 feet in diameter, which can be handled only with the assistance provided by lift equipment such as a fork lift mounted on a tractor. It is inconvenient to move these large bales long distances on a lift fork and alternatively the present equipment is not convenient to transfer these bales onto any trailer-type equipment.

The hay bale trailer of this invention is uniquely designed to cooperate with a lift fork on a tractor for transferring the large round bales onto the trailer. The trailer involves a single longitudinally extending frame member supporting on an axle having oppositely disposed ground-engaging wheels. The trailer is pivotal about an axis through the axle. Extending from the frame member on opposite sides thereof forwardly and rearwardly of the axle are bale supports engaging the frame member in cantilever fashion. The bale supports include a pair of spaced apart fingers having a width small enough to enable the fork lift fingers to straddle them when a bale of hay is being transferred onto the bale supports such that the fork lift may be lowered away from the bale support leaving the bale on the bale support. The trailer may include any number of bale supports but preferably includes four, two forwardly and two rearwardly of the axle which results in the trailer being substantially balanced. A tongue is provided at the forward end with a hitch plate at the rear end for connection to a following bale trailer.

A pair of upstanding posts are provided between each of the bale supports on the frame for separating the adjacent ends of the bales.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hay bale trailer of this invention showing four bales carried thereon with a tractor having a fork lift for transferring the bales onto the trailer.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the trailer.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof.

The hay bale trailer of this invention is referred to in FIG. 1 generally by the reference numeral 10 and is seen to include a main longitudinally extending frame member 12 supported on a single axle 14 having wheels 16 at opposite ends thereof. Four gusset plates 18 are provided for strengthening the trailer and connecting the axle to the main frame as seen in FIG. 2. The axle is located substantially in the center of the frame 12 such that the trailer will pivot about an axis through the axle 14. A tongue 20 is provided on the forward end of the frame 12 while a hitch plate 22 is provided on the rear end for connection to a trailing trailer not shown.

A bale support 24 is provided on opposite sides of the main frame 12 both forwardly and rearwardly of the axle 14 thereby providing a total of four bale supports as seen in the drawings. It is understood that additional bale supports may be provided if desired. Each bale support 24 includes a pair of spaced apart fingers 26 cantilevered to the main frame 12 and extending in parallel relationship outwardly therefrom with a cross member 28 being provided at their outer ends. Gusset plates 30 are provided to strengthen the connection of the support fingers 26 to the main frame 12.

An upstanding post 32 is provided on the frame 12 between the bale supports and includes an upper post 34 telescopically received in a lower post 36. These posts separate the large bales 40 from each other on the bale supports 24.

In operation the hay bale trailer of this invention is pulled into the field by a tractor (not shown) having a drawbar 42 and a second tractor 44 having a fork lift 46 thereon is used for transferring the bales 40 from the ground to the trailer. As seen in FIG. 1, the fork lift 46 is mounted on a three-point hitch 48 which allows the fork lift fingers 50 to be raised or lowered. The fork lift fingers are moved under a bale resting on the ground and then the fork lift is raised with the tractor then being moved into a position for transferring the bale onto the bale support. The fork lift fingers 50 are aligned with the bale support fingers 26 such that as seen in FIG. 2 the fingers 50 straddle the fingers 26. The fork lift is then lowered allowing the bale 40 to rest totally on the support 24 and then the tractor may be driven away to pick up another bale and this same sequence is repeated for each of the supports 24 for a total of four times to provide four bales on the trailer.