Apparatus for the reduction of big cylindrical bales of hay, straw and the like and for the distribution thereof

An apparatus for the discharge of hay-like material from a cylindrical bale thereof, which apparatus is adapted to be pulled by a tractor having a three point hydraulic lifting linkage, comprising:

• a trailer having a chassis and a pair of articulating wheels connected to the chassis adjacent a rear end thereof for movement of the trailer;
• connection means connected to the chassis adjacent a front end thereof for connecting said trailer to the three point hydraulic lifting linkage of the tractor so that the tractor can move the trailer in a travel direction;
• a conveyor connected to said chassis for movement in a horizontal and transverse direction to the travel direction over the top of said chassis, said conveyor having a discharge side adjacent the lateral side of said chassis for conveying hay-like material across said chassis;
• cutting means connected to said chassis above said conveyor and adjacent said conveyor discharge side, said cutting means extending in the travel direction for cutting the hay-like material in the travel direction to a substantially constant depth;
• a rotary distributor member having a plurality of projecting teeth, rotatably mounted to said chassis adjacent said conveyor discharge side and laterally outwardly of said cutting means for distributing hay-like material from said trailer lateral side as the hay-like material comes from said conveyor;
• a first arm pivotally mounted to said chassis about an axis extending substantially in the travel direction;
• a second arm pivotally mounted to said first arm adjacent one end of said second arm and about a pivot axis extending substantially in the travel direction;
• a pivot member extending in the travel direction connected to an opposite end of said second arm;
• said first and second arms pivotable to move said pivot member laterally of said trailer for engaging a cylindrical bale adjacent the central axis thereof, said first and second arms pivotable to bring said pivot member into a position above said conveyor for positioning a cylindrical bale on said conveyor;
• a first double acting hydraulic cylinder connected between said first arm and said chassis and a second double acting hydraulic cylinder connected between said first arm and said second arm, said first and second hydraulic cylinders operable to move said first and second arms and said pivot member;
• and
• drive means connected to said first and second hydraulic cylinders, said conveyor, said distributor means and said cutting means for activation thereof.