Tree-handling vehicle

Claim 2

A tree-handling vehicle comprising in combination: a. an articulated mobile vehicle having a pair of chassis arranged end-to-end and interconnected; b. a structural assembly rigidly secured to one of said chassis and providing a protected area for an operator of the vehicle; c. an operator''s station disposed within said protected area and pivotally mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, said operator''s station including controls for effecting actuation of operators for said vehicle and components thereon; d. an extendible and retractable boom pivotally mounted on said structural assembly, at a position vertically above the operator''s station for slewing about a vertical axis; e. means interconnecting said operator''s station and said pivotally mounted extendible and retractable boom for simultaneous pivotal movement about their respective axes; f. a tree-handling mechanism mounted on said boom; and g. a tree-handling assembly mounted on the other chassis of said vehicle, said boom and tree-handling mechanism being so arranged for engaging a tree in a selected area adjacent the vehicle and introducing such tree to the tree-handling assembly on the other chassis.

Claim 3

A vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein said operator''s station and boom assembly are pivotable about a common vertical axis.

Claim 4

A vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein said operator''s station includes a chair type support for an operator and a plurality of controls secured to said support.

Claim 5

A vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein said operator''s support comprises a seat member at least partially supported on the vehicle by a rotary coupling and wherein said rotary coupling includes means interconnecting the power source on the vehicle chassis and the actuators on the operator''s station for effecting actuation of the boom assembly and accessories mounted thereon.

Claim 6

A vehicle as defined in claim 4 wherein said rotary coupling is located in hydraulic circuitry interposed between a prime mover on one chassis and controllers including actuators on the rotatable portion of the boom assembly and operator''s station.

Claim 7

A tree-handling vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said tree-handling mechanism mounted on the boom comprises a felling head consisting of a grapple and a shear, each having movable jaws for selectively embracing a common object at respective positions spaced longitudinally therealong.

Claim 8

A vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein the tree-handling assembly on said other chassis comprises a bunk and means associated therewith for anchoring at least one tree to said bunk for skidding said tree to a selected location by said vehicle.

Claim 9

A vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said boom assembly and accessories thereon are actuated by hydraulic operators.

Claim 10

A machine comprising in combination: a. a self-propelled vehicle; b. a rotary mounting secured to a frAme assembly rigidly secured to said vehicle and providing a protected area for an operator for said vehicle; c. a log-handling unit or the like secured to said rotary mounting and having a work-engaging means secured thereto; d. an operator''s station, pivotally mounted on said vehicle for rotation within said protected area about a substantially vertical axis and disposed at a position vertically below said rotary mounting; e. means interconnecting said operator''s station and rotary mounting for simultaneous pivotal movement about their respective axes; f. means for operating said log-handling unit and work-engaging means thereon; g. means controlling the operation of said log-handling unit and work-engaging means, said means being secured to said movable operator''s station for movement therewith; and h. a tree bunk on said vehicle to receive and anchor felled trees to the vehicle for skidding the same, said bunk including means, operable from said operator''s station, to release said anchored trees.

Claim 11

A machine comprising in combination: a. a self-propelled vehicle; b. a rotary mounting secured to a frAme assembly rigidly secured to said vehicle and providing a protected area for an operator for said vehicle; c. a log-handling unit or the like secured to said rotary mounting and having a work-engaging means secured thereto; d. an operator''s station, pivotally mounted on said vehicle for rotation within said protected area about a substantially vertical axis and disposed at a position vertically below said rotary mounting; e. means interconnecting said operator''s station and rotary mounting for simultaneous pivotal movement about their respective axes; f. means for operating said log-handling unit and work-engaging means thereon; g. means controlling the operation of said log-handling unit and work-engaging means, said means being secured to said movable operator''s station for movement therewith; and h. a tree bunk on said vehicle to receive and anchor felled trees to the vehicle for skidding the same, said bunk including means, operable from said operator''s station, to release said anchored trees.

Claim 12

A tree-handling apparatus comprising: a. a mobile vehicle having a chassis; b. a boom pivotally mounted on the vehicle for rotation about a vertical axis; c. actuators on the boom for effecting operation of the same including accessories thereon; d. a power source on said chassis; e. means connecting the power source and actuators including a rotary coupling; f. an operator''s station disposed below the pivotal mounting of the boom on the vehicle and having means for controlling operation of the actuators, means mounting said operator''s station on the chassis for pivotable movement about a vertical axis, said operator''s station and boom assembly being located, respectively, on opposed sides of a rigid frame assembly rigidly secured to said vehicle; and g. means interconnecting the operator''s station and the boom to interrelate the pivotal movement thereof about their respective axes.

Claim 13

A tree-handling apparatus comprising: a. a mobile vehicle having a chassis; b. a boom pivotally mounted on the vehicle for rotation about a vertical axis; c. actuators on the boom for effecting operation of the same including accessories thereon; d. a power source on said chassis; e. means connecting the power source and actuators including a rotary coupling; f. an operator''s station disposed below the pivotal mounting of the boom on the vehicle and having means for controlling operation of the actuators, means mounting said operator''s station on the chassis for pivotable movement about a vertical axis, said operator''s station and boom assembly being located, respectively, on opposed sides of a rigid frame assembly rigidly secured to said vehicle; and g. means interconnecting the operator''s station and the boom to interrelate the pivotal movement thereof about their respective axes.

Claim 14

A tree-handling vehicle comprising in combination: a. a self-propelled articulated vehicle having a front chassis and a rear chassis pivotally interconnected; b. a power source on said front chassis for propelling said vehicle and providing power for hydraulic components on said vehicle; c. a structural assembly on the front chassis providing a protected area for an operator of the vehicle; d. an operator''s station located within said protected area and including a support, for the operator, pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis, and relative to said structural assembly; e. an extendible and retractable boom assembly pivotally mounted on said structural assembly, at a position vertically above the operator, for continuous 360* slewing about a vertical axis; f. means interconnecting said operator''s station and boom assembly effecting simultaneous pivotal movement of the same about their respective axes; g. a tree-handling mechanism mounted on said boom and including a shear and grapple each having movable jaws for grasping a common article at respective positions spaced longitudinally therealong; h. a tree-handling assembly pivotally mounted on the rear of said vehicle for limited movement about a vertical axis, said boom and tree-handling mechanism being so arranged for engaging and severing standing trees in sequence in a selected area adjacent the vehicle and placing the butt end of the same, in such sequence on the tree-handling assembly on said rear chassis; i. hydraulic power actuators mounted on said boom assembly for effecting slewing of said boom, extension and retraction of said boom and operation of the tree-handling mechanism; j. control valves, secured to said support for the operator, for controlling operation of said hydraulic power actuators; and k. a pair of hydraulic rotary couplings pivotally supporting respectively said operator''s support and boom assembly and connecting said power source on the font chassis oF the vehicle with said hydraulic power actuators.

Claim 15

A tree-handling vehicle comprising in combination: a. a self-propelled articulated vehicle having a front chassis and a rear chassis pivotally interconnected; b. a power source on said front chassis for propelling said vehicle and providing power for hydraulic components on said vehicle; c. a structural assembly on the front chassis providing a protected area for an operator of the vehicle; d. an operator''s station located within said protected area and including a support, for the operator, pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis, and relative to said structural assembly; e. an extendible and retractable boom assembly pivotally mounted on said structural assembly, at a position vertically above the operator, for continuous 360* slewing about a vertical axis; f. means interconnecting said operator''s station and boom assembly effecting simultaneous pivotal movement of the same about their respective axes; g. a tree-handling mechanism mounted on said boom and including a shear and grapple each having movable jaws for grasping a common article at respective positions spaced longitudinally therealong; h. a tree-handling assembly pivotally mounted on the rear of said vehicle for limited movement about a vertical axis, said boom and tree-handling mechanism being so arranged for engaging and severing standing trees in sequence in a selected area adjacent the vehicle and placing the butt end of the same, in such sequence on the tree-handling assembly on said rear chassis; i. hydraulic power actuators mounted on said boom assembly for effecting slewing of said boom, extension and retraction of said boom and operation of the tree-handling mechanism; j. control valves, secured to said support for the operator, for controlling operation of said hydraulic power actuators; and k. a pair of hydraulic rotary couplings pivotally supporting respectively said operator''s support and boom assembly and connecting said power source on the font chassis oF the vehicle with said hydraulic power actuators.