Mobile apparatus for cutting vegetation

A mobile vegetation cutting apparatus for cutting vegetation at a plurality of locations and elevations on both sides of a railroad trackway comprising:

• a mobile chassis adapted to ride upon the railroad trackway;
• at least two boom assemblies pivotally attached to said mobile chassis and each being selectively pivotable to a plurality of vegetation cutting positions on both sides of the railroad trackway;
• and
• vegetation cutting means attached to each said boom assembly.

A mobile vegetation cutting apparatus for cutting vegetation at a plurality of locations and elevations on both sides of a railroad trackway comprising:

• a mobile chassis comprising a first mobile chassis portion adapted to ride upon the railroad trackway and a second mobile chassis portion adapted to ride upon the railroad trackway and being pivotally connected to said first mobile chassis portion;
• a first drive unit pivotally attached to said first mobile chassis portion, said first drive unit having power means for driving said mobile chassis on the railroad trackway and being selectively pivotable from one lateral side of said mobile chassis to another lateral side of said mobile chassis;
• a first boom assembly comprising a first boom member pivotally connected to said first drive unit, means for selectively pivoting said first boom member with respect to said first drive unit, a second boom member pivotally connected to said first boom member and means for selectively pivoting said second boom member with respect to said first boom member;
• a first cutting means comprising a housing member pivotally attached to said second boom member, a cutting member rotatably supported within said housing member and means for rotating said cutting member at at least one predetermined speed;
• a first operator's cab operatively connected to said first drive unit;
• a second drive unit pivotally attached to said second mobile chassis portion, said second drive unit having secondary power means for driving said mobile chassis on the railroad tracks and being selectively pivotable from one lateral side of mobile chassis to another lateral side of the mobile chassis;
• a second boom assembly comprising a primary boom member pivotally connected to said second drive unit, means for selectively pivoting said primary boom member with respect to said first drive unit, a secondary boom member pivotally connected to said primary boom member and means for selectively pivoting said secondary boom member with respect to said primary boom member;
• a second cutting means comprising a second housing member pivotally attached to said secondary boom member, a second cutting member rotatably supported within said second housing member and means for rotating said second cutting member at at least one predetermined speed;
• and
• a second operator's cab operatively connected to said second drive unit.

A method for cutting vegetation along a railroad trackway having a right lateral side and a left lateral side comprising the steps of:

• providing a mobile chassis adapted to ride upon the railroad trackway and having at least two boom and vegetation cutting assemblies pivotally attached thereto, said boom and vegetation cutting assemblies being selectively pivotable to a plurality of vegetation cutting orientations on both sides of the railroad trackway;
• pivoting one of said boom and vegetation cutting assemblies to a first vegetation cutting position on the right lateral side of the railroad trackway;
• and
• pivoting another of said boom and vegetation cutting assemblies to a second vegetation cutting position on the right lateral side of the railroad trackway;
• and
• propelling said mobile chassis along the railroad right-of-way.

A vegetation cutting apparatus attachable to a mobile vehicle comprising:

• a housing member pivotally attachable to the vehicle;
• a cutting member rotatably supported within said housing member;
• means for rotating said cutting member;
• and
• at least one substantially rigid elongated guard means pivotally attached to said housing member, said guard means including biasing means for selectively permitting vegetation to enter said housing member to engage said cutting member, said guard means substantially preventing vegetation from being ejected from said housing member upon engagement with said cutting member.