Baler gate hydraulic lock

In a baler adapted to be towed and powered by a tractor, said baler having a gate hydraulically raisable to release a bale from the baler, an improved system for actuating and selectively locking the gate comprising:

• a source of hydraulic pressure fluid;
• a hydraulic cylinder on the baler operable upon actuation to raise the gate;
• conduit means interconnecting said source with said cylinder;
• a flow control valve in said conduit means accessible on the tractor for selectively directing pressure fluid into said cylinder to raise said gate;
• and a selector valve in said conduit means interposed between said control valve and said cylinder and accessible on the baler for manual actuation to block actuating fluid flow to and from said cylinder, whereby said gate is hydraulically lockable in a raised position, said selector valve including means for permitting pressure fluid to flow therethrough back to said source when disposed in said flow-blocking relation, whereby inadvertent operation of said control valve will not cause the gate to move from its locked position.

In a baler including a gate hydraulically raisable to release a bale, a hydraulic system for actuating and selectively locking the gate comprising:

• a source of hydraulic pressure fluid;
• a pair of hydraulic cylinders on the baler each including a rod side and a piston side arranged to raise the gate upon pressurization of the piston sides and to lower the gate upon pressurization of the rod sides;
• conduit means interconnecting said source with said cylinders in hydraulically parallel relation;
• a flow control valve in said conduit means manually operable to selectively direct pressure fluid into the respective piston and rod sides of said cylinders to raise and lower the gate;
• and a manual selector valve in said conduit means interposed between said control valve and said cylinders operable to block fluid flow to and from the piston side of one said cylinders, said selector valve including means for hydraulically interconnecting the piston and rod sides of the other of said cylinders, whereby said gate is hydraulically lockable in a raised position.

In a baler including a gate hydraulically raisable to release a bale, a hydraulic system for actuating and selectively locking the gate comprising:

• a source of hydraulic pressure fluid;
• a hydraulic cylinder on the baler operable upon actuation to raise the gate;
• conduit means hydraulically interconnecting said source with said cylinder;
• a control valve actuatable to direct pressure fluid into said cylinder to selectively open or close the gate;
• and a selector valve operable to block fluid flow to and from the cylinder to lock the gate while simultaneously permitting flow therethrough back to the source in the event the control valve is actuated.