Tree hogger unit

Claim 2

In a tree hogger characterized by a chassis having a masticator assembly supported thereon the combination comprising; a pair of support frame means hingedly secured to the chassis adjacent the masticator assembly; a pair of feed drum units, one mounted in each of said support frame means and disposed generally parallel to one another for moving tree parts to the masticator assembly; and selectively operable power-operated frame-positioning means operatively associated with said frame means for pivotally positioning said frame means relative to said chassis and thereby varying the distance between said drum units mounted in said frame means.

Claim 4

The tree hogger of claim l further comprising an hydraulic motor operatively associated with each of said drum units providing rotational drive therefor.

Claim 6

The tree hogger of claim l further comprising: a forward-wheeled axle located at and supporting the portion of the chassis which represents the direction of normal forward travel; a rear-wheeled axle spaced apart from said forward axle and located at and supporting the rear portion of the chassis, relative to said forward axle; axle-connecting means pivotally mounting said rear axle for movement about an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel; and power-operated steering means associated with said axle-connecting means for selectively rotating said rear axle about its axis of rotation for controlling the direction of travel of the hogger.

Claim 7

In a tree hogger characterized by a chassis and a masticator assembly mounted on the chassis, the combination comprising: a pair of feed drum support frames secured to the chassis, said frames having a pair of spaced-apart bearing members; and a feed drum mounted on each of said frames between said bearing members; sliding hinge connection means securing said frames to said chassis wherein said frames are movable relative to the chassis in a direction along said hinge connection; and fluid motors connected between said frames and chassis for selectively positioning said frames along said hinge connections.

Claim 8

In a tree hogger characterized by a chassis and a masticator assembly mounted on the chassis, the combination comprising: a pair of feed drum support frames secured to the chassis, said frames having a pair of spaced-apart bearing members; and a feed drum mounted on each of said frames between said bearing members; sliding hinge connection means securing said frames to said chassis wherein said frames are movable relative to the chassis in a direction along said hinge connection; and fluid motors connected between said frames and chassis for selectively positioning said frames along said hinge connections.

Claim 9

The tree hogger of claim 6 wherein said sliding hinge connection means comprises: spaced bosses formed on both said frames and the chassis; a pin interconnecting said frame bosses and said chassis bosses thereby pivotally mounting said frames with respect to the chassis; and power means interconnecting the chassis and said frames, said power means selectively operable to move said frames relative to the chassis along said pin and thereby vary the positions of said frames relative to the chassis.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sliding hinge connections means are further described as having a hinge axis substantially parallel to the axis of said feed drums.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising; flexible coupling means joining said motors to said drum units whereby said motors are protected against damage due to minor misAlignment of said drum units therewith due to forces experienced by said drum units during operation.