Topping attachment for tree harvesters

Claim 2

A topping mechanism for a tree harvester of the type including a vehicle, a frame movably mounted on the vehicle, a delimber arranged on the frame, drive means arranged on the frame to propel a tree along a feed path and through the delimber and at least one grapple arms mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from a portion of the frame to urge the tree into engagement with the drive means, the topping mechanism comprising a topping blade supported on the grapple arm for pivotal movement between a first position out of the feed path and a second position intersecting the feed path, the blade including a cutting edge arranged for severing engagement with the tree as the blade pivotably approaches the tree and means for controlling the blade position including stop means arranged on the frame and actuating means coupled with the blade and arranged for engagement with the stop means on the frame.

Claim 3

The topping mechanism of claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the blade position includes spring means effectively coupled with the blade and tending to urge the blade into one of its first and second positions.

Claim 4

The topping mechanism of claim 1 wherein the topping blade is secured to a shaft rotatably mounted upon the grapple arm, a lever arm being secured for rotation with the shaft, a spring-loaded plunger being mounted for longitudinal motion within a portion of the grapple arm and acting upon the lever arm with a tendency to urge the topping blade into its second positIon, a stop surface being arranged upon the frame for abutting engagement with the lever arm as the grapple arm approaches the frame.

Claim 5

The topping mechanism of claim 1 wherein the topping blade is pivotably mounted upon the grapple arm, spring means being interconnected with the topping blade and tending to urge it into its first position, the spring means entering into an over-center condition with respect to the pivotal connection between the topping blade and the grapple arm when the topping blade is in its second position, a first stop being arranged upon the frame and tending to urge the blade from its first position toward its second position as the grapple arm approaches the frame, a second stop being arranged upon the frame and tending to urge the blade from its second position into its first position as the grapple arms are retracted into an open position with respect to the frame.

Claim 6

A topping mechanism for a tree harvester of the type including a vehicle, a frame movably mounted on the vehicle, a delimber arranged on the frame, drive means arranged on the frame to propel a tree along a feed path and through the delimber and at least one grapple arms mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from a portion of the frame to urge the tree into engagement with the drive means, the topping mechanism comprising two assemblies arranged respectively on the frame and the grapple arm, one of the assemblies including a pivotable topping blade arranged for movement between a first position out of the feed path and a second position wherein the blade is extended across the feed path, the blade including a cutting edge arranged for severing engagement with the tree along the feed path as the blade pivotably approaches the tree and actuating means for controlling movement of the blade between its first and second positions, the other assembly including stop means arranged for engagement with the actuating means as the grapple arm approaches within a preselected distance from the frame.

Claim 7

A topping mechanism for a tree harvester of the type including a vehicle, a frame movably mounted on the vehicle, a delimber arranged on the frame, drive means arranged on the frame to propel a tree along a feed path and through the delimber and at least one grapple arms mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from a portion of the frame to urge the tree into engagement with the drive means, the topping mechanism comprising two assemblies arranged respectively on the frame and the grapple arm, one of the assemblies including a pivotable topping blade arranged for movement between a first position out of the feed path and a second position wherein the blade is extended across the feed path, the blade including a cutting edge arranged for severing engagement with the tree along the feed path as the blade pivotably approaches the tree and actuating means for controlling movement of the blade between its first and second positions, the other assembly including stop means arranged for engagement with the actuating means as the grapple arm approaches within a preselected distance from the frame.