Apparatus for lifting large bales of material

Apparatus for picking up and moving a large bale of material, such as a bale of hay, comprising, a mobile chassis mounted on at least one set of wheels;

• a generally vertically extending tilt frame extending transversely across the chassis at an end thereof and being mounted at one end to the end of the chassis for pivotal movement about an essentially horizontal axis extending transversely of the chassis, so that the tilt frame can be tilted from a position extending essentially vertically upward from the end of the chassis to a position in which the tilt frame leans forward towards the front of the chassis;
• a pair of rearwardly extending bale clamping members pivotally attached intermediate the tilt frame in mutually spaced relationship and swingable toward and away from each other;
• means for tilting the tilt frame forward towards the front of the chassis and for swinging the bale clamping members toward each other to clamp a bale, said means for tilting the tilt frame and for swinging the bale clamping members comprising an elongate, flexible member having its ends connected to the free ends of the rearwardly extending bale clamping members;
• a second, elongate, flexible member having one end thereof attached to the first flexible member at a point intermediate its length, said second flexible member passing over means secured to the top of the tilt frame and being connected to winch means at the front of the chassis for pulling said second, flexible member towards the front of the chassis.