Motors and processing units for processing trees
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorGrant William Voermans
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motor for a tree processing machine is provided. The motor includes a mechanism configured to drive a wheel. The wheel is configured to engage a portion of a tree. The motor also includes a housing containing the mechanism. The motor further includes an encoder. The encoder is configured to be operably coupled to the mechanism. The encoder is also configured to generate a signal indicative of a length of a portion of a tree engaged by the wheel. The encoder is contained in the housing.
Claims20
A motor for a tree processing machine, the motor comprising:
- a mechanism configured to drive a wheel, the wheel being configured to engage a portion of a tree;
- a housing containing the mechanism;
- and
- an encoder configured to be operably coupled to the mechanism and generate a signal indicative of a length of the portion of the tree engaged by the wheel,
- wherein the encoder is contained in the housing.
A processing unit for a tree processing machine, the processing unit comprising:
- a wheel configured to engage at least a portion of a tree;
- a motor operably coupled to the wheel, the motor including:
- a mechanism configured to drive the wheel,
- a housing containing the mechanism, and
- an encoder operably coupled to the mechanism and being configured to generate a signal indicative of a length of the at least a portion of the tree, the encoder being contained within the housing;
- and
- a processing device operably coupled to the encoder, the processing device being configured to process the tree.
A tree processing machine comprising:
- a chassis;
- a coupling member defining a first end and a second end, the chassis being operably coupled to the first end of the coupling member;
- and
- a processing unit operably coupled to the second end of the coupling member, the processing unit including:
- at least one wheel configured to engage a portion of a tree,
- at least one motor operably coupled to the at least one wheel, the at least one motor including:
- a mechanism configured to drive the at least one wheel,
- a housing containing the mechanism, and
- an encoder operably coupled to the at least one mechanism and being configured to generate a signal indicative of a length of at least a portion of the tree, the encoder being contained within the housing;
- and
- at least one processing device operably coupled to the encoder, the at least one processing device being configured to process the tree.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.