Falling tree controller and improved mower cutting device

Claim 2

Mowing apparatus for cutting trees or the like comprising a vehicle, a cutter mechanism connected to said vehicle and positioned adjacent ground level, controller means connected to said vehicle and positioned above said cutter mechanism for engaging a tree and directing its fall, said cutter mechanism comprising a rotating support, a radially projecting arm connected to said support, cutter plate means replaceably mounted on the outer end of said arm and having a plurality of cutting teeth formed at its outer peripheral edge and a knife edge formed on at least part of its leading edge, said cutting teeth being arranged in sets with the set of teeth closest to the leading edge of said plate means cutting on a smaller diameter than the set closest to the trailing edge of said plate means.

Claim 3

Mowing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each set of teeth comprises at least one leading cross-cut saw tooth followed by a trailing rip-saw tooth.

Claim 4

Mowing apparatus for cutting trees or the like comprising a vehicle, a cutter mechanism connected to said vehicle and positioned adjacent the ground level, controller means connected to said vehicle and positioned above said cutter mechanism for engaging a tree and directing its fall, said cutter mechanism comprising a rotating support, a radially projecting arm connected to said support, cutter plate means replaceably mounted on the outer end of said arm and having a plurality of cutting teeth at its outer peripheral edge and a knife edge formed on at least part of its leading edge, said cutter plate means including upper and lower plates removeably mounted on said arm, each of said plates having cutting teeth formed thereon, and one of said plates having its leading edge forming said knife edge.

Claim 5

Mowing apparatus for cutting trees or the like comprising a vehicle, a cutter mechanism connected to said vehicle and positioned adjacent the ground level, controller means connected to said vehicle and positioned above said cutter mechanism for engaging a tree and directing its fall, said cutter mechanism comprising a rotating support, a radially projecting arm connected to said support, cutter plate means replaceably mounted on the outer end of said arm and having a plurality of cutting teeth at its outer peripheral edge and a knife edge formed on at least part of its leading edge, said cutter plate means including upper and lower plates removeably mounted on said arm, each of said plates having cutting teeth formed thereon, and one of said plates having its leading edge forming said knife edge.

Claim 6

Mowing apparatus as defined in claim 3, said upper and lower plates having flange means depending transversely of the cutting planes of said plates and engaging cooperating surfaces on said arm, whereby shear forces created during a cutting operation are transmitted directly to said arm.

Claim 7

Mowing apparatus for cutting trees or the like comprising a vehicle, a cutter mechanism connected to said vehicle and positioned adjacent ground level, controller means connected to said vehicle and positioned above said cutter mechanism for engaging a tree and directing its fall, said cutter mechanism comprising a rotating support, a radially projecting arm having an inner portion connected to said support and an outer portion, cutter plate means replaceably mounted on said outer portion of said arm and having a plurality of cutting teeth formed at its outer peripheral edge, a knife edge formed along the leading edge of said outer arm portion and said cutter plate means, said knife edge being so angled relative to a radius line extending between the center of rotation of said support and the outer portion of said knife edge such that a hook is provided on the trailing side of said radius line to assist in directing a cut tree to said discharge side of said vehicle.

Claim 8

Mowing apparatus for cutting trees or the like comprising a vehicle, a cutter mechanism connected to said vehicle and positioned adjacent ground level, controller means connected to said vehicle and positioned above said cutter mechanism for engaging a tree and directing its fall, said cutter mechanism comprising a rotating support, a radially projecting arm having an inner portion connected to said support and an outer portion, cutter plate means replaceably mounted on said outer portion of said arm and having a plurality of cutting teeth formed at its outer peripheral edge, a knife edge formed along the leading edge of said outer arm portion and said cutter plate means, said knife edge being so angled relative to a radius line extending between the center of rotation of said support and the outer portion of said knife edge such that a hook is provided on the trailing side of said radius line to assist in directing a cut tree to said discharge side of said vehicle.

Claim 9

Mowing apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the inner portion of said arm includes means pivotally connecting said arm to said support, a stop member fixed to said connecting means and pivotable therewith, and stop means mounted on said support and engageable with said stop member to hold said arm in a forward direction relative to said support, whereby the position of said arm and cutter plate means is fixed as they approach a tree, but the arm and plate means are pivotable in a rearward trailing direction when necessary to prevent damage thereto.

Claim 10

Mowing apparatus as defined in claim 5, said cutting mechanism including a housing above said support and cutter assembly, said housing having means adjacent said discharge side of said vehicle to disengage a tree from said hook and discharge said tree along said discharge side of said vehicle.

Claim 11

Mowing apparatus as defined in claim 5, said controller means comprising a pusher bar extending transversely of saiD vehicle across its path of advancement, upright frame means mounted on said vehicle, support means connecting said pusher bar to said upright frame means and permitting longitudinal movement of said bar between forward extended and rearward retracted positions, and means for normally biasing said bar toward its forward extended position.

Claim 12

Mowing apparatus as defined in claim 8, said support means comprising at least one inner member longitudinally slidably received within an outer member which is mounted on said upright frame means.

Claim 13

Mowing apparatus as defined in claim 8, said upright frame means comprising longitudinally spaced forward and rearward frame assemblies, said support means comprising a pair of longitudinally extending inner members slidably received within a pair of outer tubular pipes, said pusher bar extending angularly between the forward ends of said inner members to direct a tree toward said discharge side of said vehicle, a transverse member extending between the forward end of said outer pipes and being pivotally connected to said forward frame assembly at said discharge side of said vehicle, the rearward end of said outer pipe being mounted on said rearward frame assembly for limited transverse movement, and said biasing means including spring means acting between said inner members and one of said frame assemblies to urge said pusher bar to its forward extended position.

Claim 14

Mowing apparatus as defined in claim 10, comprising second spring means acting between one of said outer pipes and said rearward frame assembly to cause said pusher bar to be pivoted toward the discharge side of said vehicle.

Claim 15

Mowing apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said frame assemblies are vertically adjustable on said vehicle to adjust the working height of said pusher bar against a tree.

Claim 16

A falling tree controller for use with a mowing vehicle comprising upright frame means mounted on said vehicle and including longitudinally spaced forward and rearward frame assemblies, support means mounted on said frame assemblies and including a pair of longitudinally spaced forward and rearward frame assemblies, support means mounted on said frame assemblies and including a pair of longitudinally extending inner members slidably received within a pair of outer tubular pipes, a pusher bar extending angularly between the forward ends of said inner members across the path of advancement of said vehicle to direct a tree toward a discharge side of said vehicle, said inner members being slidable within said other members to permit longitudinal movement of said bar between forward extended and rearward retracted positions, a transverse member extending between the forward end of said outer pipes and being pivotally connected to said forward frame assembly at said discharge side of said vehicle, the rearward end of said outer pipes being mounted on said rearward frame assembly for limited transverse movement, and biasing means including spring means acting between said inner members and one of said frame assemblies for normally biasing said pusher bar toward its forward extended position.

Claim 17

A falling tree controller for use with a mowing vehicle comprising upright frame means mounted on said vehicle and including longitudinally spaced forward and rearward frame assemblies, support means mounted on said frame assemblies and including a pair of longitudinally spaced forward and rearward frame assemblies, support means mounted on said frame assemblies and including a pair of longitudinally extending inner members slidably received within a pair of outer tubular pipes, a pusher bar extending angularly between the forward ends of said inner members across the path of advancement of said vehicle to direct a tree toward a discharge side of said vehicle, said inner members being slidable within said other members to permit longitudinal movement of said bar between forward extended and rearward retracted positions, a transverse member extending between the forward end of said outer pipes and being pivotally connected to said forward frame assembly at said discharge side of said vehicle, the rearward end of said outer pipes being mounted on said rearward frame assembly for limited transverse movement, and biasing means including spring means acting between said inner members and one of said frame assemblies for normally biasing said pusher bar toward its forward extended position.

Claim 18

A falling tree controller as defined in claim 13, comprising second spring means acting between one of said outer pipes and said rearward frame assembly to cause said pusher bar to be pivoted toward the discharge side of said vehicle.

Claim 19

A falling tree controller as defined in claim 13, wherein said frame assemblies are vertically adjustable on said vehicle to adjust the working height of said pusher bar against a tree.

Claim 20

A cutter mechanism for use in a rotary mower comprising a rotating support, a radially projecting arm mounted on said support, cutter plate means replaceably mounted on the outer end of said arm and having a plurality of cutter teeth at its outer peripheral edge and a knife edge formed on at least part of its leading edge, said cutter teeth being arranged in sets with the set of teeth closest to the leading edge of said plate means cutting on a smallEr diameter than the set closest to the trailing edge of said plate means.

Claim 21

A cutter mechanism for use in a rotary mower comprising a rotating support, a radially projecting arm mounted on said support, cutter plate means replaceably mounted on the outer end of said arm and having a plurality of cutter teeth at its outer peripheral edge and a knife edge formed on at least part of its leading edge, said cutter teeth being arranged in sets with the set of teeth closest to the leading edge of said plate means cutting on a smallEr diameter than the set closest to the trailing edge of said plate means.

Claim 22

A cutter mechanism as defined in claim 16, wherein each set of teeth comprises at least one leading cross-cut saw tooth followed by a trailing rip-saw tooth.

Claim 23

A cutter mechanism for use in a rotary mower comprising a rotating support, a cutter assembly including a radially projecting arm connected to said support and cutter plate means replaceably mounted on the outer end of said arm, said cutter plate means comprising upper and lower plates removeably mounted on said arm, each of said plates having cutting teeth formed on their outer peripheral edge and one of said plates having its leading edge forming a knife edge.

Claim 24

A cutter mechanism for use in a rotary mower comprising a rotating support, a cutter assembly including a radially projecting arm connected to said support and cutter plate means replaceably mounted on the outer end of said arm, said cutter plate means comprising upper and lower plates removeably mounted on said arm, each of said plates having cutting teeth formed on their outer peripheral edge and one of said plates having its leading edge forming a knife edge.

Claim 25

A cutter mechanism as defined in claim 18, said upper and lower plates having flange means depending transversely of the cutting planes of said plates and engaging cooperating surfaces on said arm, whereby shear forces created during a cutting operation are transmitted directly to said arm.

Claim 26

A cutter mechanism for use in a rotary mower comprising a rotating support, a cutter assembly including a radially projecting arm connected to said support, cutter plate means replaceably mounted on the outer portion of said arm and having a plurality of cutting teeth formed on its outer peripheral edge, a knife edge formed along the leading edge of said outer arm portion and said cutter plate means and being so angled relative to a radius line extending between the center of rotation of said support and the outer portion of said knife edge such that a hook is provided on the trailing side of said radius line to assist in directing cut material to a discharge side of the mower.

Claim 27

A cutter mechanism for use in a rotary mower comprising a rotating support, a cutter assembly including a radially projecting arm connected to said support, cutter plate means replaceably mounted on the outer portion of said arm and having a plurality of cutting teeth formed on its outer peripheral edge, a knife edge formed along the leading edge of said outer arm portion and said cutter plate means and being so angled relative to a radius line extending between the center of rotation of said support and the outer portion of said knife edge such that a hook is provided on the trailing side of said radius line to assist in directing cut material to a discharge side of the mower.

Claim 28

A cutter mechanism as defined in claim 20, wherein the inner portion of said arm includes means pivotally connecting said arm to said support, a stop member to hold said arm in a forward direction relative to said support, whereby the position of said arm and cutter plate means is fixed as they approach a tree, but the arm and plate means are pivotable in a rearward trailing direction when necessary to prevent damage thereto.

Claim 29

A cutter mechanism as defined in claim 20, including a housing above said support and cutter assembly, said housing having means adjacent said discharge side of the mower to disengage cut material from said hook and discharge said material along the discharge side of the mower.

Claim 30

Apparatus for cutting trees or the like comprising a vehicle, a cutter assembly connected to said vehicle and positioned adjacent ground level, controller means connected to said vehicle and positioned above said cutter assembly for engaging a tree and directing its fall, said cutter assembly including a rotatable support member and a radially projecting arm mounted on said support member, said arm having cutter teeth at its outer peripheral edge and a knife edge formed along at least part of its leading edge, said knife edge being angled relative to a radius line extending between the center of rotation of said support member and the outer portion of said knife edge such that a hook is provided on the trailing side of said radius line to assist said controller means in directing a cut tree to a predetermined discharge side of said vehicle out of the path of advancement of said vehicle.

Claim 31

Apparatus for cutting trees or the like comprising a vehicle, a cutter assembly connected to said vehicle and positioned adjacent ground level, controller means connected to said vehicle and positioned above said cutter assembly for engaging a tree and directing its fall, said cutter assembly including a rotatable support member and a radially projecting arm mounted on said support member, said arm having cutter teeth at its outer peripheral edge and a knife edge formed along at least part of its leading edge, said knife edge being angled relative to a radius line extending between the center of rotation of said support member and the outer portion of said knife edge such that a hook is provided on the trailing side of said radius line to assist said controller means in directing a cut tree to a predetermined discharge side of said vehicle out of the path of advancement of said vehicle.

Claim 32

Apparatus as defined in claim 23, said cutter assembly including a housing having means adjacent said discharge side of said vehicle to disengage a tree from said hook and discharge said tree along said discharge side of said vehicle.

Claim 33

Apparatus as defined in claim 23, said controller means comprising a pusher bar extending angularly across the path of advancement of said vehicle to direct a tree toward said discharge side of said vehicle.

Claim 34

Apparatus as defined in claim 25, said cutter assembly including a housing having means adjacent said discharge side of said vehicle to disengage a tree from said hook and discharge said tree along said discharge side of said vehicle.