US3676941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tree excavating machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-24
•
Granted: 1972-07-18
•
Expires: 1989-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A tree digger which, when mounted on the base of a tree, digs a trench inclined from the vertical about same, the distance of the trench from the tree and the depth of the trench being adjustable.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur H Cohrs
- 👤 Franklin T Kresse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:34
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; A01G23/04; A01G23/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
Tree excavating apparatus for digging a downwardly convergent frustaconical trench concentrically about the root portion of a tree, comprising a. stationary clamping sleeve means adapted for rigid clamping concentrically about the trunk of the tree; b. annular collar means concentrically mounted for rotation about said clamping sleeve means; c. generally horizontal support arm means connected at one end with and radially extending outwardly from said collar means; d. ground-engaging wheel means for supporting said support arm means at a given generally horizontal orientation relative to the ground, said wheel means being arranged to permit rotation of said support arm means and said collar means around said sleeve means; and e. rotatably-driven endless trench cutter means connected with said support arm means for digging a trench around said tree, said trench cutter means being contained solely in an inclined plane that is: 1. normal to the vertical plane containing said support arm means, and 2. inclined at an upwardly divergent acute angle relative to the vertical axis of said clamping sleeve means, whereby upon rotation of said support arm means about said clamping sleeve means, said cutter means will dig an inwardly convergent trench around said tree to enclose the root system thereof within a frustaconical ball of earth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
Tree excavating apparatus for digging a downwardly convergent frustaconical trench concentrically about the root portion of a tree, comprising a. stationary clamping sleeve means adapted for rigid clamping concentrically about the trunk of the tree; b. annular collar means concentrically mounted for rotation about said clamping sleeve means; c. generally horizontal support arm means connected at one end with and radially extending outwardly from said collar means; d. ground-engaging wheel means for supporting said support arm means at a given generally horizontal orientation relative to the ground, said wheel means being arranged to permit rotation of said support arm means and said collar means around said sleeve means; and e. rotatably-driven endless trench cutter means connected with said support arm means for digging a trench around said tree, said trench cutter means being contained solely in an inclined plane that is: 1. normal to the vertical plane containing said support arm means, and 2. inclined at an upwardly divergent acute angle relative to the vertical axis of said clamping sleeve means, whereby upon rotation of said support arm means about said clamping sleeve means, said cutter means will dig an inwardly convergent trench around said tree to enclose the root system thereof within a frustaconical ball of earth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
inclined at an upwardly divergent acute angle relative to the vertical axis of said clamping sleeve means, whereby upon rotation of said support arm means about said clamping sleeve means, said cutter means will dig an inwardly convergent trench around said tree to enclose the root system thereof within a frustaconical ball of earth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
inclined at an upwardly divergent acute angle relative to the vertical axis of said clamping sleeve means, whereby upon rotation of said support arm means about said clamping sleeve means, said cutter means will dig an inwardly convergent trench around said tree to enclose the root system thereof within a frustaconical ball of earth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including means connecting said trench cutter means with said support arm means for vertical adjustment longitudinally of the line of intersection between said vertical and inclined planes, thereby to permit variation of the depth of the trench formed around the tree.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said trench cutter means comprises endless cutter chain means the axis of operation of which is colinear with said line of intersection between said vertical and inclined planes, and further wherein said means connecting said trench cutter means for vertical adjustment relative to said support arm means comprises slide channel means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said vertical adjustment means further includes piston and cylinder motor means connected between said trench cutter means and said support arm means, said motor means extending parallel with the line of intersection between said vertical and inclined planes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support arm means is sectional and of variable length, and further including means for adjusting the length of said arm to vary the radius of the resultant frustaconical trench.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further wherein said ground-engaging wheel means includes at least one wheel pivotally connected with said support arm means for movement about a vertical pivot axis, thereby to accommodate adjustment in length of said support arm means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, and further including rotary motor means for driving said one wheel, and lock means for maintaining said one wheel in a given angular orientation relative to said support arm means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including rotary motor means for driving said wheel means to transport said support arm means and said trench cutter means about the clamping sleeve means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including hinge means connecting said support arm means with said collar means for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |