Fork Lift Attachment for Hydraulically Equipped Tractors

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 89, Issue 4, 15 October 1954, Page 355

Fork Lift Attachment for Hydraulically Equipped Tractors

IN recent years there have been amazing advances in the mechanisation of agricultural production, and in this. respect orchard work is no exception. Whereas a few years ago horses were relied on for all work of drawing cultivation equipment and trailers, tractors now do this work. Use of tractors has introduced various attachable implements which when used with the hydraulic system on some tractors have greatly simplified routine orchard operations. Such a device is the fork lift attachment described here by N. B. Congdon, Horticultural Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Hastings.

r T , HE idea of a fork lift attachment THE idea of a fork lift attachment for hydraulically equipped tractors in orchards was conceived by a Hastings orchardist and the equipment has recently been designed and constructed in conjunction with a local engineering firm. This implement has already proved its worth in the many uses to which it may be put on an orchard. Because of its versatility it is not restricted to orchard use, as wherever there is a need for lifting in farm work generally this device must be of immense value.

Construction

The lift is approximately 6ft. high. The vertical framework, 22in. wide, is constructed of channel iron. The forks are 3ft. long. The unit is mounted on two lengths of steam piping of 2iin. diameter. These supports are bolted to the chassis of the tractor and run the full length of the tractor. The strain in lifting is therefore taken by the tractor as a whole and not just by the front axle. The method of attachment is simple so that the lift may be attached or detached in 10 minutes. The mountings and other permanent fixtures on the tractor do not prevent the use of any other implements which may be required.

The 2|in. steam piping also provides for the fitting at the rear of the tractor of two counterweights of reinforced concrete. These weigh 3001 b. each and can be easily fitted on and adjusted according to the load the fork is to lift. The counterweights are necessary only for heavy lifting and are not required for average orchard work. The lift is operated in the normal way by a hydraulic lever. A foot-operated ratchet secures the load and eliminates the strain on the hydraulic system. Steel cables (5/16in.) are used to transfer power from a central hydraulic ram to the forks. The unit can be tilted either backward or forward as required, and this is effected by steel cables stretching from the rear of the tractor and attached on each side of the lift. This manoeuvrability allows the forks to be fixed at various levels and facilitates such jobs as disposal of prunings on to a fire and loading and unloading of timber. It virtually eliminates hand labour for such jobs. The tractor is not hard to steer and is easily controlled when carrying. 30 loose bushels of apples and travelling in Stop gear. The. accompanying photographs show what weights can comfortably be lifted by a relatively light tractor.

Uses The following are some uses to which the fork lift attachment may be put: — It is very useful for carting fruit from orchard to shed and loading pallets of packed fruit on to a truck. It is estimated that one man can cart 250 loose cases of apples for J mile in 55 minutes. Eight pallets of packed fruit can be loaded on to trucks in 19 minutes. As a sweeper attachment for sweeping prunings it has proved extremely useful. An advantage is that prunings may be placed directly on to the fire heap and the forks can be used to compact prunings. It has been used effectively for pulling out stumps of fruit trees. This is usually an annual job with most orchardists and if done by hand, is irksome and time consuming. The lift also has the following uses which make it equally valuable for both orchard and farm work generally.

It can lift 3 drums of lime sulphur or petrol from a truck. It has been used as a jack to lift up the front end of a 30cwt. truck. It has proved useful for jacking up a building with sunken piles. With a platform fixed to the forks the lift can be used when hedges are

being trimmed and as a scaffold when buildings are being painted. With the lift raised to its full extent and by the use of a number of pallets to build up the platform a hedge 20ft. high can be trimmed quite comfortably. In transporting timber the attachment has been used for carrying 1000 ft. of 6in. x lin. timber of 12ft. length. On farms it would be valuable in simplifying many every-day tasks such as carrying baled or loose hay and milk and cream cans. With the addition of a bin or platform it would be useful for carrying metal, fencing gear, concrete posts, or other bulky material. It has been used effectively for drawing out fence posts. . Maximum lift for this purpose would be obtained by using a crossbar placed horizontally along the elbows formed by the forks. In general the attachment is useful for any job requiring lifting or transport that can be done within the capacity of the tractor and its hydraulic system.

The unit is being manufactured by a local firm and is being retailed at approximately £l6O. . Acknowledgments The author thanks Mr. J. A. Boyes, orchardist, Twyford, for information and photographs and time spent in demonstrating, and Welders and Engineers, Hastings, Ltd., for advice on construction.

Danger of Weedkilling Spray Drift

r\RIFT from modern hormone weed-destroying sprays can be disastrous to many . types of plants, and consequently care should be taken when they are being used. A drift of air-borne spray being applied for the destruction of a light growth of gorse on a roadside caused the cankerous growth on the swede bulbs illustrated above. Though the plants were small when the spray came in contact with them, it did not cause their destruction, but subsequent growth was malformed and retarded to the extent?. illustrated in what would otherwise have been a 40 ton per acre crop. Sections of the crop a chain from the sprayed gorse were affected. —J. O. WALLACE, Seed Production Officer, Department of Agriculture, Dunedin