New McHale terra drive axle option
Well-known for its Fusion baler wrapper combination, Irish manufacturer McHale has launched an interesting option at the recent Irish Ploughing Match.
The Pro-Glide F3100 and R3100 front and rear mounted mower conditioners, in development for four seasons, though using a bought-in cutter-bar assembly take their design and remaining manufacturing input from McHale.
Both machines offer 3.1m cutting widths and have a full width conditioner that is gearbox driven and uses steel swinging tines.
Out front the F3100 has up to 500mm of 'in-work' movement and a newly designed suspension system with a cam-lock to maintain the required ground pressure through the travel range. A double pivot pin at the centre of the machine allows 17 degrees of lateral movement.
In operation the suspension is also configured to make adjustments to the cutter-bar angle as it moves over the ground, by tilting it up as it travels over a bump and tilting it down as it moves through a hollow, so maintaining uniform cutting height across the paddock.
Bringing up the rear, the R3100 rear mower-conditioner has a suspension system positioned above the central pivot point over the cutter-bed, to give a wide range of movement; this uses the Pro-Glide system springs to allow the mower to move back and up in an arc should obstacles be encountered. A separate mechanical break-back unit allows for larger obstacles it might encounter.
In work, ground pressure is controlled hydraulically, and displayed on a headstock mounted indicator gauge. For transport the rear unit folds vertically over centre to around 110 degrees to minimise transport width.
Graeme Leigh, general manager for importer Power Farming, refers to limited production during the remainder of 2015 and the first part of 2016, and says they will look to carry out some evaluation before considering the release for the 2016-17 season.
Wrapping at different sizes
Also shown for the first time at the Ploughing Match was the McHale Orbital twin dispenser, trailed wrapper.
Though it uses a film application system similar to the flagship Fusion machine, this machine has some interesting features for loading and accommodating differing bale sizes.
The loading arm swings through 90 degrees to hold the bale before lifting it onto the wrapping table, where a drop-down front roller reduces the required lift height to place the bale. Once loaded the lowered roller moves back into position to allow the wrap cycle to start.
The twin dispenser system can spin at up to 40rpm, and apply 4 or 6 layers of film in 20 or 30 seconds. Output is maximised further with the loading arm carrying a bale, then automatically transferring it to the table as it clears. Once wrapped, unloading is achieved by the rear table roller lowering to place the bale on the ground.
The machine’s ability to adjust the working height of the table rollers allows it to accept bales 1.0-1.45m diameter, while still applying film to the centre of the bale.
Expect to see this in NZ for the 2016-17 season.
