Tree transplanting machine
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorJohn M. DeHaan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The split base frame for encircling a tree to be transplanted carries a plurality of upright blade guide units for associated digging blades. Each blade is guidably supported for movement in a guided path from an upper position out of the ground to a lower ground inserted position wherein the blades are inclined downwardly and inwardly of the base frame to relatively converged positions to form a tree ball for the roots of the tree being excavated. A blade is moved by an upright lift screw and nut assembly located in each guide unit and wherein the nut assembly is attached to an associated blade. Coacting means on the nut assembly and on the guide unit define the guided path of movement of the blade with the nut assembly being traversible axially of the screw shaft on rotation thereof by a reversible rotary power means.
Claims6
A machine for excavating a tree from the ground with a root ball including:
- (a) a base frame for encircling a tree to be excavated;
- (b) a plurality of upright blade guide units on said base frame;
- (c) a plurality of movable digging blades corresponding in number to said guide units, with each blade movable in a guided path adjacent to and outwardly from an associated guide unit;
- (d) means for guidably supporting a blade for movement in said guided path from an upper position out of the ground, to a lower ground inserted position wherein said blades are inclined downwardly and inwardly of said base frame to form a tree ball for the roots of a tree being excavated;
- (e) means for moving each blade in the guided path therefor including an upright lift screw and coacting nut assembly, located within each guide unit;
- (f) means supporting the lower end portion of said lift screw on the base frame for rotational movement about an upright axis and for pivotal movement in a plane laterally of a blade;
- (g) means for connecting each nut assembly to the upper end portion of an associated blade;
- (h) coacting means on a guide unit and nut assembly for defining said guided path of movement of a blade;
- and
- (i) means for reversibly rotating said lift screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.