Bale wagon clamp mechanism
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorsJeffrey B. Fay, II, Nathaniel Kip Totten
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A grasping mechanism for an agricultural bale wagon has a fixed grasping arm and a movable grasping arm. The movable grasping arm is translatable toward and away from the fixed grasping arm. The movable grasping arm can be rotated to define varying angular relationships between the fixed grasping arm and the movable grasping arm. Rotation and translation of the movable grasping arm are effected by an actuator. A resilient bumper between the fixed grasping arm and movable grasping arm is adjustable automatically to span the adjusted width between the fixed grasping arm and movable grasping arm.
Claims18
An agricultural bale wagon, comprising:
- a chassis;
- an articulating mechanism coupled to the chassis;
- a bale grasping mechanism coupled to the articulating mechanism and including first and second grasping arms;
- a translational mechanism connecting a first and a second grasping arm and comprising a movable portion permitting translational movement between the first and second grasping arms;
- a rotational mechanism for rotating one of the first and second grasping arms relative to the other of the first and second grasping arms;
- the first grasping arm being rotatably carried on a movable member of the translational mechanism and configured for rotation about a pivot point;
- and
- an actuator operatively connected to the movable portion and the rotational mechanism, such that the actuator is configured for adjusting the lateral position of the first grasping arm with respect to the second grasping arm and for adjusting the lateral position of the first grasping arm relative to the pivot point, the actuator also adjusting the pivotal position of the first grasping arm about the pivot point.
An agricultural bale wagon, comprising:
- a chassis;
- an articulating mechanism coupled to the chassis;
- a bale grasping mechanism coupled to the articulating mechanism and including a fixed grasping arm and a movable grasping arm;
- a translational mechanism connecting the fixed grasping arm and the movable grasping arm and configured for moving the movable grasping arm toward and away from the fixed grasping arm;
- a rotational mechanism connecting the fixed grasping arm and the movable grasping arm and configured for rotating the movable grasping arm relative to the fixed grasping arm;
- an actuator operatively connected to the translational mechanism and the rotational mechanism;
- the translational mechanism comprising a fixed frame member carried by the chassis and a slidable member connected to the movable grasping arm;
- and the actuator is connected between the fixed frame member and the slidable member;
- and
- a first rocker arm having one end thereof pivotally carried by the sliding member and another end thereof connected to the actuator;
- and a link having one end thereof connected to the first rocker arm and a second end thereof connected to the movable grasping arm.
A bale grasping assembly for an agricultural bale wagon, comprising:
- a bale grasping mechanism comprising a fixed grasping arm and a movable grasping arm;
- a translational mechanism connecting the fixed grasping arm and the movable grasping arm, the translational mechanism comprising a sliding member movable along a fixed member;
- a rotational mechanism connecting the sliding member and the movable grasping arm;
- the movable grasping arm being rotatably carried on the sliding member and configured for rotation about a pivot point;
- and
- an actuator operatively connected to the fixed member and the sliding member, such that the actuator is configured for adjusting the lateral position of the movable grasping arm with respect to the fixed grasping arm and for adjusting the lateral position of the movable grasping arm relative to the pivot point, the actuator also adjusting the pivotal position of the movable grasping arm about the pivot point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.