Back to results
US 4,763,742 AGranted
Tree feller-buncher
AssigneeAllied Systems Company
InventorFrederic E. Langford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A four track vehicle especially adapted for logging on steep slopes includes a running unit and an upper unit. The upper unit is articulated relative to the lower unit to maintain a center of gravity within the four tracked pods upon which the running unit is mounted. Sensing systems are utilized to alert the operator when the machine is in an anticipitated tipping condition. Moreover, a unique suspension system combining a torsion frame and swingable pod mounting arms are employed. The pods are locked in position when the vehicle is in an operating mode and are unlocked when the vehicle is in a travel mode.
Claims35
A four track vehicle especially adapted for logging on steep slopes comprising:
- a frame having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension;
- a first rigid arm extending transversely outwardly from and rigidly affixed to said frame adjacent one end thereof;
- a second rigid arm extending transversely outwardly from and rigidly affixed to the opposite side of said frame adjacent said one end;
- a first pivot arm extending transversely outwardly from said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame, and means for pivotally connecting said first arm to said frame for swinging movement about a first longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal center line of said frame;
- a second pivot arm extending transversely outwardly from the opposite side of said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame, and means for pivotally connecting said second pivot arm to said frame for swinging movement about a second longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal centerline of said frame;
- first and second pods carrying endless tracks connected to the respective outer ends of said first and second rigid arms and third and fourth pods carrying endless tracks connected to the respective outer ends of said first and second pivot arms;
- and
- a link coupling said first and second pivot arms, the ends of said link being pivotally coupled to said respective pivot arms at locations vertically offset from the pivotal connections of said pivot arms to said frame.
5 more elements
A four track vehicle especially adapted for logging on steep slopes comprising:
- a frame having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension;
- a first arm extending transversely outwardly from and affixed to a first side of said frame adjacent one end of said frame;
- a second arm extending transversely outwardly from and fixed to the other side of said frame adjacent said one end;
- a third arm extending transversely outwardly from the first side of said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame;
- a fourth arm extending transversely outwardly from and affixed to the other side of said box frame adjacent said opposite end;
- first, second, third, and fourth pods carrying endless tracks associated with respective outer ends of said first, second, third, and fourth arms;
- and
- means for connecting said first, second, third, and fourth pods to their respective arms for pivotal movement about substantially parallel axes that are oriented transversely to said frame.
5 more elements
A multitrack vehicle especially adapted for logging on steep slopes comprising:
- a frame having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension;
- a first trunnion and means mounting said first trunnion to a central portion of said frame for swinging movement about a transverse axis;
- a second trunnion and means mounting said second trunnion to said first trunnion for swinging movement about an axis oriented longitudinally relative to said frame;
- a turntable and means mounting said turntable to said second trunnion for rotational movement about a generally upright axis;
- an upper unit mounted on said turntable;
- a first rigid arm extending transversely outwardly from and rigidly affixed to said frame adjacent one end thereof;
- a second rigid arm extending transversely outwardly from and rigidly affixed to the opposite side of said frame adjacent said one end;
- a first pivot arm extending transversely outwardly from said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame, and means for pivotally connecting said first arm to said frame for swinging movement about a first longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal center line of said frame;
- a second pivot arm extending transversely outwardly from the opposite side of said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame, and means for pivotally connecting said second pivot arm to said frame for swinging movement about a second longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal centerline of said frame;
- first and second pods carrying endless tracks connected to the respective outer ends of said first and second rigid arms and third and fourth pods carrying endless tracks connected to the respective outer ends of said first and second pivot arms;
- and
- a link coupling said first and second pivot arms, the ends of said link being pivotally coupled to said respective pivot arms at locations vertically offset from the pivotal connections of said pivot arms to said frame.
9 more elements
A multitrack vehicle especially adapted for logging on steep slopes comprising:
- a frame having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension;
- a first trunnion and means mounting said first trunnion to a central portion of said frame for swinging movement about a transverse axis;
- a second trunnion and means mounting said second trunnion to said first trunnion for swinging movement about an axis oriented longitudinally relative to said frame;
- a turntable and means mounting said turntable to said second trunnion for rotational movement about a generally upright axis;
- an upper unit mounted on said turntable;
- a first arm extending transversely outwardly from and affixed to a first side of said frame adjacent one end of said frame;
- a second arm extending transversely outwardly from and affixed to the other side of said frame adjacent said one end;
- a third arm extending transversely outwardly from and affixed to the first side of said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame;
- a fourth arm extending transversely outwardly from and affixed to the other side of said frame adjacent said opposite end;
- first, second, third, and fourth pods carrying endless tracks associated with the respective outer ends of said first, second, third, and fourth arms;
- and
- means for connecting said first, second, third, and fourth pods to their respective arms for pivotal movement about substantially parallel axes that are oriented transversely to said frame.
9 more elements
A four track vehicle especially adapted for logging on steep slopes comprising:
- a frame having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension;
- a first arm extending transversely outwardly from and affixed to a first side of said frame adjacent one end of said frame;
- a second arm extending transversely outwardly from and affixed to the other side of said frame adjacent said one end;
- a third arm extending transversely outwardly from the first side of said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame;
- a fourth arm extending transversely outwardly from and affixed to the other side of said box frame adjacent said opposite end;
- first, second, third and fourth pods carrying endless tracks associated with the respective outer ends of said first, second, third, and fourth arms;
- and
- means for connecting said first, second, third, and fourth pods to their respective arms for pivotal movement about substantially parallel axes that are oriented transversely to said frame;
- first, second, third, and fourth means associated with respective ones of said first, second, third, and fourth pods for independently providing a control signal indicating unweighting of a pod;
- circuit means for receiving the control signal from said first, second, third, and fourth means and providing an output signal when the control signals from said first, second, third, and fourth means indicate the unweighting of any two adjacent pods.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.