Cylindrical bale transport device

A bale transport device comprising a frame arranged for transport across the ground in a transport direction, the frame including a plurality of elongate longitudinal frame rails generally parallel to the transport direction and defining a length of the frame sufficient to receive thereon a predetermined number of cylindrical bales with an axis of the bales parallel to the frame members and a plurality of cross rails interconnecting the longitudinal frame rails, the frame including two parallel sides, a longitudinally extending apex portion arranged centrally between the sides and two inclined support portions each defining a fixed support surface for receiving said bales thereon and inclined downwardly from the apex portion to a respective one of the sides of the frame;

• two side support members each pivotally mounted on the frame at a respective one of the sides for pivotal movement about a longitudinal horizontal pivot axis at the respective side of the frame, each of the side support members being formed from longitudinal and transverse rails and defining a support surface for receiving said bales thereon, each of the side support members being pivotally movable about said pivot axis between a first support position in which the support surface of the side support member is inclined outwardly and upwardly from the respective side so as to form with the support surface of a respective one of said inclined support portions a V-shaped receptacle for said bales, and a second unload position in which the support surface of the side support member is inclined outwardly and downwardly to allow a bale from said receptacle to roll under its own weight outwardly and downwardly for unloading onto the ground;
• and means for retaining said side support members in the first support position wherein each of the side support members is pivotally movable to a third position in which the side support member is raised to a position above the first position so that an outside edge of the side support member is brought inwardly to define an allowable highway transportation width between the outside edges of the side support members.

A bale transport device comprising a frame arranged for transport across the ground in a transport direction, the frame including a plurality of elongate longitudinal frame rails generally parallel to the transport direction and defining a length of the frame sufficient to receive thereon a predetermined number of cylindrical bales with an axis of the bales parallel to the frame members and a plurality of cross rails interconnecting the longitudinal frame rails, the frame including two parallel sides, a longitudinally extending apex portion arranged centrally between the sides and two inclined support portions each defining a fixed support surface for receiving said bales thereon and inclined downwardly from the apex portion to a respective one of the sides of the frame;

• two side support members each pivotally mounted on the frame at a respective one of the sides for pivotal movement about a longitudinal horizontal pivot axis at the respective side of the frame, each of the side support members being formed from longitudinal and transverse rails and defining a support surface for receiving said bales thereon, each of the side support members being pivotally movable about said pivot axis between a first support position in which the support surface of the side support member is inclined outwardly and upwardly from the respective side so as to form with the support surface of a respective one of said inclined support portions a V-shaped receptacle for said bales, and a second unload position in which the support surface of the side support member is inclined outwardly and downwardly to allow a bale from said receptacle to roll under its own weight outwardly and downwardly for unloading onto the ground;
• and means for retaining said side support members in the first support position wherein each of the pivot axes is arranged inwardly of an outermost edge of the respective inclined support portion such that an edge portion of the inclined support portion extends outwardly and downwardly beyond the respective pivot axis.

A bale transport device comprising a frame arranged for transport across the ground in a transport direction, the frame including a plurality of elongate longitudinal frame rails generally parallel to the transport direction and defining a length of the frame sufficient to receive thereon a predetermined number of cylindrical bales with an axis of the bales parallel to the frame members and a plurality of cross rails interconnecting the longitudinal frame rails, the frame including two parallel sides, a longitudinally extending apex portion arranged centrally between the sides and two inclined support portions each defining a fixed support means for receiving said bales thereon and inclined downwardly from the apex portion to a respective one of the sides of the frame;

• two side support members each pivotally mounted on the frame at a respective one of the sides for pivotal movement about a longitudinal horizontal pivot axis at the respective side of the frame, each of the side support members being formed from longitudinal and transverse rails and defining a support surface for receiving said bales thereon, each of the side support members being pivotally movable about said pivot axis between a first support position in which the support surface of the side support member is inclined outwardly and upwardly from the respective side so as to form with the support surface of a respective one of said inclined support portions a V-shaped receptacle for said bales, and a second unload position in which the support surface of the side support member is inclined outwardly and downwardly to allow a bale from said receptacle to roll under its own weight outwardly and downwardly for unloading onto the ground;
• and means for retaining said side support members in the first support position wherein the retaining means comprises a first latch means assembly for cooperation with a first one of the side support members and a second latch means assembly separate from the first latch means assembly for cooperation with a second one of the side support members, each of the first and second latch means assemblies comprising a plurality of separate latch members arranged at spaced positions along the length of the side support member and including a longitudinal slideable latch bar having a plurality of latch engaging members thereon, each latch engaging member being arranged to hold a respective one of the latch members in a latching position and being releasable therefrom simultaneously with the others of the latch members by longitudinal movement of the latch bar.