US 5,396,754 AGranted

Tractor-mounted articulated arm and trimmer attachment

AssigneeKing Kutter, Inc.

InventorJames P. Fraley

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Abstract

An articulated arm and cutter attachment for mounting on a tractor has a pair of elongated vertical booms pivotally connected to one another at their top ends. The lower end of one of the booms is pivotally connected to a beam extending laterally from underneath the tractor chassis. The other boom has a telescoping lower end on which is mounted a foot which supports a rotary cutter. An upper portion of the beam connected to the tractor is inclined outwardly, and an upper portion of the other beam is inclined inwardly to allow the arm to reach out a substantial distance and extend over obstacles such as fences. Pivoting mechanisms in the foot allow tilting of the supported cutter over a wide range of angular positions. Hydraulic cylinders are provided for carrying out movement of the arm, along with hydraulic fluid lines and controls. Yieldable mounting of the foot provides for breaking away of the cutter upon striking an obstacle.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A hydraulically actuated articulated arm and rotary cutter attachment for mounting on a tractor comprising:

a pair of elongated upright booms, including an inner boom and an outer boom, each having an upper end and a lower end;
support means adapted for being rigidly connected to said tractor and defining a first horizontal pivot axis spaced apart laterally from the tractor;
said inner boom having a normally vertically extending lower section and integral therewith an upper section disposed diagonally outward at an acute angle with respect to the lower section, the lower end of said inner boom being connected to said support means in a manner such as to provide for limited pivotal movement of the inner boom around said first horizontal pivot axis;
said outer boom having a normally vertically extending lower section and integral therewith an upper section disposed diagonally inward at an acute angle with respect to said lower section;
said inner boom and said outer boom being connected to one another at their upper ends by means allowing limited pivotal motion with respect to one another around a second horizontal pivot axis;
said lower section of said outer boom including a bottom portion slidably connected for telescoping upward and downward movement;
a foot connected to said bottom portion of said outer boom;
a rotary cutter and a hydraulic motor powering the cutter mounted on said foot;
first, second, and third hydraulic cylinder and piston means disposed to provide pivotal motion of said booms around said horizontal axes and to provide slidable motion of the bottom portion of said outer boom;
hydraulic supply lines communicating said cylinder means and said motor with a pressurized hydraulic fluid source;
and
hydraulic fluid control means.

9 more elements

A hydraulically actuated, articulated arm and rotary cutter attachment mountable on a chassis of a tractor comprising:

support frame means rigidly connectable to said chassis and including a bracket defining a first horizontal pivot axis spaced apart laterally from said chassis and parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by said chassis;
a pair of upright booms including an inner boom and an outer boom, each said boom having an upper end and a lower end, an elongated lower section adapted to be placed in a vertical position and an upper section disposed diagonally with respect to the lower section thereof, the inner boom adapted for placement with said upper section extending outward and the outer boom adapted for placement with said upper section extending inward;
said lower end of said inner boom being pivotally connected to said support means whereby said inner boom may be moved toward and away from said chassis by pivoting around said first horizontal axis;
the upper ends of said booms being pivotally connected to one another by means defining a second horizontal pivot axis around which said booms may be moved together and apart;
means for extending and retracting said lower end of said outer boom upward and downward with respect to the upper end thereof;
a foot secured to said lower end of the outer boom;
a rotary cutter and a hydraulic motor powering the same carried by said foot;
hydraulic cylinder and piston means arranged to provide pivotal movement around said pivot axes of boom members adjacent to said axes and to provide extension and retraction of said lower end of said outer boom;
hydraulic fluid supply lines communicating said cylinder means and said motor with a pressurized hydraulic fluid source;
and
hydraulic fluid control means.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.