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US 7,802,594 B1Granted
Tree trimmer
OwnerWilliam H. Meadowsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method for trimming pine trees. The device comprises an enclosure having a pair of cutter heads mounted thereon each cutter head a pair of jaws having cutting blades thereon which jaws surround the trunk of the pine tree and then delimb the pine tree as the enclosure is moved up and down the pine tree by being placed on the front of a motorized skid steer loader/lift. The enclosure contains an air compressor driven by an internal combustion engine which supplies air for conveyance to air cylinders operated by a solenoid which cause the cutter head blades to operate. The enclosure can be moved about easily and conveniently by being mounted on the front of the motorized lift such as a caterpillar or forklift-type device.
Claims18
An apparatus for removing limbs from the trunk of a tree, the apparatus being mounted on a motorized vehicle, comprising:
- a) a housing, said housing being supported by a plurality of frame members, said housing having a front, rear, top, bottom, and first and second sides, said housing being attachable to and removable from the motorized vehicle so that said housing is raised or lowered by the motorized vehicle;
- b) a first and second cutter head being disposed on said front of said housing, a first and second jaw being disposed on each said cutter head, each said saw having an upper edge thereon, a cutting blade being disposed on said upper edge of each said first and second jaw, wherein each said jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when each said jaw is in said closed position the tree to be delimbed is captured between said first and second jaw so that the limbs are cut from the trunk of the tree by said cutting blade as the housing is raised up the trunk of the tree by the motorized vehicle;
- c) means for mounting said first and second cutter head on said housing to permit each said cutter head to be attached to and removed from the housing;
- and,
- d) means for moving said first and second jaws from said open position to said closed position;
- and
- e) said means for mounting each said first and second cutter head on said housing further comprises:
- i) a mounting shaft having first and second ends, wherein said first end of said mounting shaft is adapted for connection to said cutter head, wherein said second end of said mounting shaft is adapted for being connected to and removed from said housing, wherein said mounting shaft is substantially horizontally disposed;
- ii) wherein said mounting shaft is adapted for movement along an axis thereof so that said cutter head is movable along said axis of said mounting shaft a distance of about two inches so that the trunk of the tree is not damaged from contact with said cutter head as said cutter head is raised up the trunk of the tree;
- and,
- iii) wherein said mounting shaft is rotatable about said axis thereof about twenty degrees clockwise or counterclockwise so that the trunk of the tree is not damaged from contact with said cutter head as said cutter head is raised us the trunk of the tree.
8 more elements
An apparatus for removing limbs from the trunk of a tree, the apparatus being mounted on a motorized vehicle, composing:
- a) a housing, said housing being supported by a plurality of frame members, said housing having a front, rear, top, bottom, and first and second sides, said housing being attachable to and removable from the motorized vehicle so that said housing is raised or lowered by the motorized vehicle;
- b) a first and second cutter head being disposed on said front of said housing, a first and second jaw being disposed on each said cutter head, each said jaw having an upper edge thereon, a cutting blade being formed in said upper edge of each said first and second jaw, wherein each said jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when each said jaw is in said closed position the tree to be delimbed is captured between said first and second jaw so that the limbs are cut from the trunk of the tree by said cutting blade as the housing is raised up the trunk of the tree by the motorized vehicle;
- c) means mounted on an inside of said cutter heads to hold sharp edges of said cutter blades away from bark of said tree trunk to as to prevent damage to said bark while delimbing said tree;
- d) means for mounting said first and second cutter head on said housing to permit each said cutter head to be attached to and removed from the housing;
- and,
- e) means for moving said first and second jaws from said open position to said closed position.
3 more elements
A method of delimbing a tree trunk comprising the steps of:
- a) maneuvering a motorized vehicle to said tree trunk, said motorized vehicle carrying a housing, said housing being supported by a plurality of frame members, said housing having a front, rear, top, bottom, and first and second sides, said housing being attachable to and removable from the motorized vehicle so that said housing is raised or lowered by the motorized vehicle, a cutter head disposed on said front of said housing, a cutter head having a set of first and second jaws, each said jaw having an upper edge thereon, a cutting blade formed in said upper edge of each of said first and second jaws, said jaws being movable between an open position and a closed position;
- b) positioning said cutter head to where said tree trunk is between said first and second jaws in said open position;
- c) actuating said jaws into said closed position wherein said jaws completely surround said tree trunk;
- d) raising said cutter head whereby said cutting blade on each of said first and second jaws trims away branches on said tree trunk, said cutter head having means to hold said cutting blades away from bark of said tree trunk to as to prevent damage to said bark while delimbing said tree.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.