US3618647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tree harvester
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1969-11-19
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Granted: 1971-11-09
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Expires: 1989-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A novel and improved tree-harvesting method and apparatus adapted to cut, delimb, top, transport and deposit a plurality of trees in a stack at a desired collection point. The tree harvester features a horizontally oriented mast which is mounted on a mobile vehicle. A butt shear and felling grapple are pivotally mounted at one end of the mast and are adapted to grasp and sever a standing tree and pivot it to a substantially horizontal position overlying the mast where it is grasped and securely held by a transfer grapple. A combination delimber and top shear is mounted for longitudinal movement on the top of the mast and is adapted to be driven along the tree to strip all limbs from the tree and also to remove the top portion of the tree at either a predetermined length or diameter. After the tree has been delimbed and topped, it is dropped by the transfer grapple into collection arms positioned at intervals along the mast and adapted to hold a large number of delimbed and topped trees to be transported by the tree harvester to a collection point where the trees are deposited in a stack.
Inventors
- 👤 Virgil C Stuart Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:35
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; A01G23/08; A01G23/083; A01G23/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
Tree-harvesting apparatus comprising, in combination: a mobile vehicle; mast means mounted on said mobile vehicle and oriented in a substantially horizontal direction; felling grapple means pivotally mounted at one end of said horizontal mast means for grasping, severing, and pivoting a standing tree to a substantially horizontal position overlying said horizontal mast means; transfer grapple means fixed to said horizontal mast means adjacent said felling grapple means for receiving a tree from said felling grapple means and for securely holding the tree in a fixed substantially horizontal position overlying said horizontal mast means; delimbing and topping means mounted for axial movement in the horizontal direction on said horizontal mast means along tHe length of said tree for stripping all branches from said tree and for removing the top of the tree; and collection means attached to said horizontal mast means for receiving and storing in a horizontal orientation a number of delimbed and topped trees to be transported with said treeharvesting apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
Tree-harvesting apparatus comprising, in combination: a mobile vehicle; mast means mounted on said mobile vehicle and oriented in a substantially horizontal direction; felling grapple means pivotally mounted at one end of said horizontal mast means for grasping, severing, and pivoting a standing tree to a substantially horizontal position overlying said horizontal mast means; transfer grapple means fixed to said horizontal mast means adjacent said felling grapple means for receiving a tree from said felling grapple means and for securely holding the tree in a fixed substantially horizontal position overlying said horizontal mast means; delimbing and topping means mounted for axial movement in the horizontal direction on said horizontal mast means along tHe length of said tree for stripping all branches from said tree and for removing the top of the tree; and collection means attached to said horizontal mast means for receiving and storing in a horizontal orientation a number of delimbed and topped trees to be transported with said treeharvesting apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
Tree-harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said delimbing and topping means includes a pair of delimber blades movable into and out of engagement with the tree held by said transfer grapple means to remove all branches as the delimber blades are driven along said tree and a pair of top shear knives actuatable to remove the top portion of said tree.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Tree-harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including a drive mechanism mounted on said horizontal mast means to drive said delimbing and topping means along said horizontal mast means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
99 words
The method of harvesting trees comprising the steps of grasping a standing tree, severing the tree at a point near its base, pivoting the severed tree to a substantially horizontal orientation, supporting said tree in a fixed elevated position while maintaining its substantially horizontal orientation, delimbing said tree by passing a delimbing mechanism along the length of said tree while supporting said tree in said fixed substantially horizontal position, topping said tree while it is supported in said substantially horizontal position, and storing said tree along with other delimbed and topped trees in an elevated and substantially horizontal position.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
99 words
The method of harvesting trees comprising the steps of grasping a standing tree, severing the tree at a point near its base, pivoting the severed tree to a substantially horizontal orientation, supporting said tree in a fixed elevated position while maintaining its substantially horizontal orientation, delimbing said tree by passing a delimbing mechanism along the length of said tree while supporting said tree in said fixed substantially horizontal position, topping said tree while it is supported in said substantially horizontal position, and storing said tree along with other delimbed and topped trees in an elevated and substantially horizontal position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 further including the step of releasing said stored trees to thereby deposit said trees in a stack.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-08 | 1975-05-10 | 1975-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-08 | 1979-05-10 | 1979-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-08 | 1983-05-10 | 1983-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |