Tree clamp structure

Claim 2

In a tree clamp structure having opposed jaws for gripping a tree limb therebetween during a tree-shaking operation, wherein the improvement comprises: gripping pods mounted on said jaws, each of said pods including a flexible cup-shaped cap secured on a jaw to define an airtight chamber therewith, at least one disc-shaped member floatably disposed within said cap, an incompressible material disposed within said chamber having the properties of flowability under slowly applied forces and rigidity under rapidly applied forces, said material occupying substantially less than the volume of the chamber unoccupied by said discshaped member, the remainder of the volume of said chamber not occupied by said disc-shaped member and said material being filled with air.

Claim 3

The subject matter of claim 1, wherein the air within the chamber occupies between 12 percent and 26 percent of the total volume of the chamber.

Claim 4

The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said disc-shaped member has a diameter substantially the same as the maximum internal diameter of said cap.

Claim 5

The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said material is a silicone putty.

Claim 6

The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said disc-shaped member is a tire carcass disc.

Claim 7

The subject matter of claim 2, wherein said disc-shaped member has a diameter substantially the same as the maximum internal diameter of said cap.

Claim 8

The subject matter of claim 6, wherein said material is a silicone putty.

Claim 9

The subject matter of claim 7, wherein said disc-shaped member is a tire carcass disc.

Claim 10

A tree clamp structure adapted for mounting on an end of a boom for gripping the limb of a tree to be harvested, said clamp structure comprising: a fixed jaw rigidly secured to said boom and having a first pair of angularly disposed portions extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said boom, said portions being joined at an apeX disposed in alignment with said axis; a movable jaw extendably connected to said boom and having a second pair of angularly disposed portions extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said boom, said second pair of portions being joined at an apex disposed in alignment with said axis; and a pair of tree-engageable pods mounted on each of said pairs of angularly disposed portions, each pod being mounted on a respective one of said portions whereby said pods are angularly disposed in opposable relationship to grip a tree therebetween, each of said pods including a flexible cup-shaped cap secured on its respective portion to define an airtight chamber therewith, at least one disc-shaped member floatably disposed within said cap, an incompressible material disposed within said chamber having the properties of flowability under slowly applied forces and rigidity under rapidly applied forces, said material occupying substantially less than the volume of the chamber unoccupied by said disc-shaped member, the remainder of the volume of said chamber unoccupied by said disc-shaped member and said material being filled with air.

Claim 11

A tree clamp structure adapted for mounting on an end of a boom for gripping the limb of a tree to be harvested, said clamp structure comprising: a fixed jaw rigidly secured to said boom and having a first pair of angularly disposed portions extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said boom, said portions being joined at an apeX disposed in alignment with said axis; a movable jaw extendably connected to said boom and having a second pair of angularly disposed portions extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said boom, said second pair of portions being joined at an apex disposed in alignment with said axis; and a pair of tree-engageable pods mounted on each of said pairs of angularly disposed portions, each pod being mounted on a respective one of said portions whereby said pods are angularly disposed in opposable relationship to grip a tree therebetween, each of said pods including a flexible cup-shaped cap secured on its respective portion to define an airtight chamber therewith, at least one disc-shaped member floatably disposed within said cap, an incompressible material disposed within said chamber having the properties of flowability under slowly applied forces and rigidity under rapidly applied forces, said material occupying substantially less than the volume of the chamber unoccupied by said disc-shaped member, the remainder of the volume of said chamber unoccupied by said disc-shaped member and said material being filled with air.

Claim 12

The subject matter of claim 9, wherein said disc-shaped member has a diameter substantially the same as the maximum internal diameter of said cap.

Claim 13

In a tree clamp structure having opposed jaws with gripping pods thereon for gripping a tree limb therebetween during a tree-shaking operation, wherein the improvement comprises: each of said jaws including an annular seat defined by a raised circular rim rounded in cross section, each of said pods including a flexible cap having a circular base portion received in a respective one of said annular seats to define an airtight chamber therewith, said cap including a portion of a diameter greater than the diameter of said rim and spaced from said rim whereby portions of said cap are engageable with said rounded in cross section rim to prevent sharp bending or creasing of said cap to accommodate flexing and rolling of said cap relative to said seat during clamping.

Claim 14

In a tree clamp structure having opposed jaws with gripping pods thereon for gripping a tree limb therebetween during a tree-shaking operation, wherein the improvement comprises: each of said jaws including an annular seat defined by a raised circular rim rounded in cross section, each of said pods including a flexible cap having a circular base portion received in a respective one of said annular seats to define an airtight chamber therewith, said cap including a portion of a diameter greater than the diameter of said rim and spaced from said rim whereby portions of said cap are engageable with said rounded in cross section rim to prevent sharp bending or creasing of said cap to accommodate flexing and rolling of said cap relative to said seat during clamping.

Claim 15

The subject matter of claim 11, wherein at least one disc-shaped member is floatably disposed within said cap to resist crushing of said cap during deformation.

Claim 16

The subject matter of claim 12, including an incompressible material disposed within said chamber having the properties of flowability under slowly applied forces and rigidity under rapidly applied forces.