Bale Unroller Built By Students Saves Hay

1999 - Volume #23, Issue #3, Page #12

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Alabama farmer Tim Easterwood, looking for less wasteful ways to feed his cows than conventional bale rings, or unrollers powered by hydraulic motors, took his needs to the Cullman Area Vocational Center's welding department.
  The result is what instructor Wade Hancock calls the "Hay Un-Roller". It's designed to handle Easterwood's 4 by 5-ft. bales. It mounts on the 3-pt. hitch of his 75 hp Ford tractor equipped with remote hydraulics.
  "Tim tells me it now takes 1/2 the hay to feed the same number of cattle compared to the conventional hay rings he used before," says Hancock. "He says it's also easier to control the amount of hay he unrolls compared with hydraulic-powered unrollers he looked at."
  The student-built unroller consists of an 85-in. wide by 26-in. tall frame built of 2 1/2 in. sq. tubing. It has two 3-ft., 6 1/2-in. long arms that slide in and out hydraulically on frame cross members. It'll handle bales up to 6 ft. wide. Arms are operated by a pair of 3 by 10-in. hydraulic cylinders.
  Each arm is fitted with a 16-in. long spike that slides into the center of the bale as the cylinders are closed.
  Each arm is also fitted with a stand that has a sight gauge for ensuring that the bale is backed up to properly. "From the center of the spike to the top of the parking stand is 30 in., or right in the center of a 5-ft. bale," Hancock says.
  "Not only can Tim feed less hay with less waste, it also allows every cow to feed at one time rather than the larger ones eating first and the smaller ones getting the left overs," Hancock says.
  Cost of the project was $500. Hancock is looking for a manufacturer to buy the patent and market the tool. Also, he says he'll make detailed plans and a materials list available for a small fee if there's interest.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Wade Hancock, Welding Department, Cullman Area Vocational Center, 17640 Hwy. 31, Cullman, Ala. 35057 (ph 256 734-7740; fax 7464).

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Bale Unroller Built By Students Saves Hay BALE HANDLING Bale Handling (31B) 23-3-12 Alabama farmer Tim Easterwood, looking for less wasteful ways to feed his cows than conventional bale rings, or unrollers powered by hydraulic motors, took his needs to the Cullman Area Vocational Center's welding department. The result is what instructor Wade Hancock calls the "Hay Un-Roller". It's designed to handle Easterwood's 4 by 5-ft. bales. It mounts on the 3-pt. hitch of his 75 hp Ford tractor equipped with remote hydraulics. "Tim tells me it now takes 1/2 the hay to feed the same number of cattle compared to the conventional hay rings he used before," says Hancock. "He says it's also easier to control the amount of hay he unrolls compared with hydraulic-powered unrollers he looked at." The student-built unroller consists of an 85-in. wide by 26-in. tall frame built of 2 1/2 in. sq. tubing. It has two 3-ft., 6 1/2-in. long arms that slide in and out hydraulically on frame cross members. It'll handle bales up to 6 ft. wide. Arms are operated by a pair of 3 by 10-in. hydraulic cylinders. Each arm is fitted with a 16-in. long spike that slides into the center of the bale as the cylinders are closed. Each arm is also fitted with a stand that has a sight gauge for ensuring that the bale is backed up to properly. "From the center of the spike to the top of the parking stand is 30 in., or right in the center of a 5-ft. bale," Hancock says. "Not only can Tim feed less hay with less waste, it also allows every cow to feed at one time rather than the larger ones eating first and the smaller ones getting the left overs," Hancock says. Cost of the project was $500. Hancock is looking for a manufacturer to buy the patent and market the tool. Also, he says he'll make detailed plans and a materials list available for a small fee if there's interest. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Wade Hancock, Welding Department, Cullman Area Vocational Center, 17640 Hwy. 31, Cullman, Ala. 35057 (ph 256 734-7740; fax 7464).

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