Bale cutting device, implement and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11058063-B2
Application number	US-201916414841-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2019
Priority date	May 24, 2018
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

An implement includes a bale cutting device, which includes a carrier that can be pivoted about a pivot axis, and a support connected to the carrier. A cutter bar is attached to and supported by the support so as to be movable at least substantially in the direction of a longitudinal extent of the support. The implement may include at least one pick-up for engaging a bale. In operation, the cutter bar is positioned on a far side of the bale, with the bale between the carrier and the cutter bar. The cutter bar may then be drawn inward into the bale to cut the bale approximately in half.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bale cutting device comprising:
a left support arm and a right support arm each extending along a longitudinal extent and coupled together in a spaced parallel relationship, with each of the left support arm and the right support arm including a respective first support part and a respective second support part, with the second support part supported by and telescopically moveable relative to the first support part;
a double-acting hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the respective first support part and the respective second support part of one of the left support arm or the right support arm for moving the respective second support part relative to the respective first support part;
wherein each of the left support arm and the right support arm include a respective third support part, with the respective third support part supported by and telescopically moveable relative to the respective second support part of each of the left support arm and the right support arm;
a traction drive interconnecting the respective second support part and the respective third support part of one of the left support arm or the right support arm and operable to move the respective third support part along the longitudinal extent in response to movement of the double-acting hydraulic cylinder;
a cutter bar attached to and extending between each of the left support arm and the right support arm, wherein the cutter bar is moveable relative to the respective first support part of the left support arm and the respective first support part of the right support arm along the longitudinal extent between a retracted position and a distal position; and
wherein the cutter bar includes a plurality of knives.

2. The bale cutting device set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a gripping device attached to and extending between the left support arm and the right support arm and rotatable about an axis extending transverse to the longitudinal extent between an engagement position and a disengagement position.

3. An Implement for an agricultural vehicle, the implement comprising:
an attachment carrier configured for attachment to the agricultural vehicle;
a left support arm and a right support arm coupled together in a spaced parallel relationship, wherein each of the left support arm and the right support arm is rotatably connected to the attachment carrier for pivotable movement about a pivot axis relative to the attachment carrier and extend from the pivot axis along a longitudinal extent, with each of the left support arm and the right support arm including a respective first support part and a respective second support part, with the second support part supported by and telescopically moveable relative to the first support part;
a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the respective first support part and the respective second support part of one of the left support arm or the right support arm for moving the respective second support part relative to the respective first support part along the longitudinal extend;
wherein each of the left support arm and the right support arm includes a respective third support part, with the respective third support part supported by and telescopically moveable relative to the respective second support part of each of the left support arm and the right support arm;
a traction drive interconnecting the respective second support part and the respective third support part of one of the left support arm or the right support arm and operable to move the respective third support part along the longitudinal extent in response to movement of the hydraulic cylinder;
a cutter bar attached to both the left support arm and the right support arm for movement relative to the carrier attachment along the longitudinal extent between a retracted position and a distal position; and
wherein the cutter bar includes a plurality of knives.

4. The implement set forth in claim 3 , wherein the hydraulic cylinder is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder.

5. The implement set forth in claim 3 , further comprising a gripping device attached to and extending between the left support arm and the right support arm and rotatable about an axis extending transverse to the longitudinal extent of the carrier.

6. The implement set forth in claim 3 , wherein the cutter bar is moveable relative to the respective first support part of the left support arm and the respective first support part of the right support arm along the longitudinal extent of the carrier.

7. The implement set forth in claim 3 , wherein the cutter bar is rotatably attached to the third support part of the left support arm and the third support part of the right support arm.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Guiet Lionel

Classifications

• A01D87/127 Primary

  Apparatus for handling, loading or unrolling round bales · CPC title

• A01F29/005 Primary

  for disintegrating and cutting up bales of hay, straw or fodder (for unrolling round bales A01D87/127) · CPC title

• A01F29/01

  specially adapted for being mounted on or drawn by a tractor, e.g. field choppers · CPC title

• A01F29/08

  having reciprocating knives · CPC title

• A01D2087/128

  Devices for unrolling or breaking round bales · CPC title