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US 9,686,964 B1Granted
Hay bale shredder for feeding livestock
OwnerDaniel Stirewaltinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hay bale flaking device mountable on a wheeled vehicle such as a trailer is provided. The flaking device employs a ram to translate a hay bale on a ramp, and underneath a cutting blade which at timed intervals cuts flakes of hay from the distal end of the hay bale. The timing and thickness of the flakes may be adjustably controlled. A secondary bale of hay may be carried by the device for positioning upon the ramp subsequent to use of a previous bale to make flakes.
Claims10
A hay bale flaking apparatus, comprising:
- a wheeled vehicle having a ramp extending to a dispensing end positioned on a side edge of said vehicle, said ramp adapted to support a hay bale thereon;
- a ram configured to impart a translation of said hay bale on said ramp, toward said dispensing end;
- a cutting blade positioned at or adjacent said dispensing end of said ramp;
- said cutting blade actuable to translate through said hay bale in individual cuts of said cutting blade, to thereby separate portions from said hay bale into individual flakes, which sequentially fall to a respective ground position from said dispensing end of said ramp;
- a controller, said controller being user configurable to control a speed of said translation of said hay bale on said ramp and a timing of said individual cuts of said cutting blade, and thereby control a thickness of each said flake and a distance between respective ground positions of each said flake;
- a first pressurized fluid supply communicating from said controller to fluid driven motor powering said ram;
- a second pressurized fluid supply communicating from said controller to a hydraulic cylinder powering said cutting blade for said individual cuts in said hay bale;
- said controller varying said first pressurized fluid supply to said fluid driven motor to control said speed of translation on said ramp;
- and
- said controller varying said secondary pressurized fluid supply to said hydraulic cylinder, to control timing of said individual cuts of said cutting blade.
7 more elements
A hay bale flaking apparatus, comprising:
- a wheeled vehicle having a ramp extending to a dispensing end positioned on a side edge of said vehicle, said ramp adapted to support a hay bale thereon;
- a ram configured to impart a translation of said hay bale on said ramp, toward said dispensing end;
- a cutting blade positioned at or adjacent said dispensing end of said ramp;
- said cutting blade actuable to translate through said hay bale in individual cuts of said cutting blade, to thereby separate portions from said hay bale into individual flakes, which sequentially fall to a respective ground position from said dispensing end of said ramp;
- a support engaged upon said wheeled vehicle adjacent to said ramp;
- said support having a storage position, configured for supporting a secondary said hay bale thereon;
- said support having an elevated position wherein a said secondary hay bale positioned thereon, moves to operative positioning upon said ramp;
- and
- whereby said secondary hay bale is positionable upon said ramp by a user by actuating said support to move from said storage position to said elevated position.
6 more elements
A hay bale flaking apparatus, comprising:
- a wheeled vehicle having a ramp extending to a dispensing end positioned on a side edge of said vehicle, said ramp adapted to support a hay bale thereon;
- a ram configured to impart a translation of said hay bale on said ramp, toward said dispensing end;
- a cutting blade positioned at or adjacent said dispensing end of said ramp;
- said cutting blade actuable to translate through said hay bale in individual cuts of said cutting blade, to thereby separate portions from said hay bale into individual flakes, which sequentially fall to a respective ground position from said dispensing end of said ramp;
- a controller, said controller being user configurable to control a speed of said translation of said hay bale on said ramp and a timing of said individual cuts of said cutting blade, and thereby control a thickness of each said flake and a distance between respective ground positions of each said flake;
- a support engaged upon said wheeled vehicle adjacent to said ramp;
- said support having a storage position, configured for supporting a secondary said hay bale thereon;
- said support having an elevated position wherein a said secondary hay bale positioned thereon, moves to operative positioning upon said ramp;
- and
- whereby said secondary hay bale is positionable upon said ramp by a user by actuating said support to move from said storage position to said elevated position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.