hay bale accumulator

D80 · Mar 13, 2006

Attached is the hydraulic diagrams from the bale accumulator that i have been using as a guide to build my own. could anyone tell me what type a valves I would need by looking at this diagram. If you would like to see pictures of the bale accumulator or a video on how it works go to http://www.hoelscherinc.com/indexhay.htm

I have got about all the steel scrounged up for this, i just need to figure out the hydraulics. I have got all the cylinders, flow controls, misc fittings and rigid hydraulic tubing that I need. I just need to have some of the hoses made up and find some time to build it.

D80

RonMar · Mar 13, 2006

Well the valves listed as number 3 in the drawing look like manual selector valves. They have 6 ports. 2 of them are supply and return ports., the other 4 are working ports. When the valve is in one position, the supply and return go to one set of working ports. When the valve is in the other position, the supp/return go to the other two ports. The hose crossover below the lvalves indicates to me that this valve is used to switch cylinder direction when the mechanism attached to the valve is moved.. IE: cylinder pushes one way till bale hits linkage then the cylinder reverses, possibly to catch the next bale.

Valve 4 looks like a type of diverter valve. I could guess that after the first cylinder reaches the end of it's stroke and the pressure spikes, the flow is then diverted to the second cylinder causing it to go through a cycle controlled by it's linkage.

Pretty complex plumbing and linkages for what appears to be semi automatic operation. If you were going to run this manually, you might be able to do so with a single 2 spool loader valve.

Good luck.

D80 · Mar 13, 2006

This is a fully automic machine, when the bales trip the lever on the left of the page the pushover cylinder (top cylinders) is activated. The pushover arm pushes two bales onto a bed that tilts. Once eight bales are on the bed of the machine the trip the lever on the right which activates the other cylinder. this cylinder tilts the bed to dump the bales onto the ground. You would probably understand it better if you watched the video on the web site that I mentioned in my first post.

RonMar · Mar 13, 2006

Yeah, I get the idea from the pictures on the website and from the drawing. What I was getting at, is that it could be done far simpler if you don't try to automate it.

The first bale goes up the ramp and stops at the top. The second bale goes up and pushes the first bale to the back. Both bales are lined up by guides at the top of the ramp. As soon as the second bale is up, pull the first lever to have the ram push them out onto the platform. Repeat untill 8 bales are on the platform then pull the second lever to deposit the block of 8 bales on the ground.

This could even be done with 2 log splitter valves($70 each?), using the detent position to return the ram to the home or start position after each push or dump. After your done pushing bales or dumping a block of 8, Just flip the lever into the return detent position and the ram returns home and kicks the lever back into neutral automatically once it arrives. You could set the safety low on the first valve so you don't crush/deform the bales if they should get hung up for some reason. Just hold the lever till the bypass opens when the bales stop against the far side of the platform(or the ram reaches the end of it's travel). You could add switches and indicator lights to show when 2 bales were ready to be pushed onto the platform and when 8 bales were ready for dump. Again very basic electrics.

Just a thought.