Patent US3620273A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3620273A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tree harvesting apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-05-25
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1990-05-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a forwardly movable vehicle having a tree felling and processing assembly mounted on the front end thereof and adjustable in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of the vehicle to enable accurate alignment of the assembly with a tree selected for harvesting during movement of the vehicle. The felling and processing assembly includes a lower severing mechanism and a mast which extends upwardly therefrom and is movable between vertical and inclined positions. The assembly also includes a tree gripping and feeding assembly consisting of pairs of elongated concave surfaced rollers which grip the tree and are operable to feed the tree downwardly so that it can be cut off into lengths. The tree lengths are then bucked onto a conveyor which moves them to a storage receptacle on the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Propst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:26
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; A01G23/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a steerable forwardly movable vehicle, a tree felling and processing assembly located forwardly of said vehicle, said assembly including means for felling a tree and means for feeding a tree downwardly and cutting the tree into logs of predetermined length, frame means extending transversely of said vehicle at said forward end thereof, and support means secured to said assembly and movably mounted on said frame means for movement transversely of said vehicle to adjust the transverse position of said assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a steerable forwardly movable vehicle, a tree felling and processing assembly located forwardly of said vehicle, said assembly including means for felling a tree and means for feeding a tree downwardly and cutting the tree into logs of predetermined length, frame means extending transversely of said vehicle at said forward end thereof, and support means secured to said assembly and movably mounted on said frame means for movement transversely of said vehicle to adjust the transverse position of said assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame means comprises a substantially horizontally extending frame member, rotatable screw means extending longitudinally of and mounted on said frame member, and nut means on said screw member and connected to said support means for said assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said assembly includes a lower C-frame, tree felling means on said C-frame and a mast mounted on and extending upwardly from said C-frame, means pivotally connecting said mast to said support means, and adjustable means connected to and extending between said support means and said mast and operable to incline said mast relative to a vertical plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a vehicle having a forward end, tree felling means mounted on said forward end, a tree gripping and feeding assembly mounted on said forward end at a position above said severing means, said assembly comprising a plurality of gripping and feeding rollers arranged in vertically spaced pairs, the rollers in each of said pairs being generally cylindrical in shape and being horizontally spaced, each of said rollers having a concave surface, and each pair of rollers having the longitudinal axes thereof relatively reversely inclined so that said rollers are arranged crisscross fashion and are engageable with opposite sides of an upright tree.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a vehicle having a forward end, tree felling means mounted on said forward end, a tree gripping and feeding assembly mounted on said forward end at a position above said severing means, said assembly comprising a plurality of gripping and feeding rollers arranged in vertically spaced pairs, the rollers in each of said pairs being generally cylindrical in shape and being horizontally spaced, each of said rollers having a concave surface, and each pair of rollers having the longitudinal axes thereof relatively reversely inclined so that said rollers are arranged crisscross fashion and are engageable with opposite sides of an upright tree.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 further including means for moving said rollers toward and away from each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 further including means resiliently urging said rollers toward each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 further including an upright mast disposed in a relation with said felling means and said gripping and feeding assembly, tree-severing means on said mast disposed below said gripping and feeding assembly and above said severing means a predetermined distance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 further including tree-delimbing means mounted on said mast at a position above said tree gripping and feeding assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 further including means adjustably mounting said mast on said vehicle for movement to inclined positions and for movement transversely of the direction of vehicle movement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 further including log kicker means on said mast below said tree-severing meAns for moving a severed portion of a tree rearwardly onto said vehicle.
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) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |