Patent US3707175A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3707175A
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Method and apparatus for harvesting trees
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-07-20
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Granted: 1972-12-26
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Expires: 1990-07-20
Abstract
Abstract The method and apparatus for harvesting trees wherein a tree to be harvested is gripped, severed from its base, and then rotated about a substantially vertical axis spaced from the tree to a processing position. The vehicle on which the apparatus is mounted includes gripping and feeding rollers which feed the tree downwardly in the processing position of the tree while the vehicle is moving toward another tree to be harvested. During downward movement of the tree, it is cut into log lengths by cooperating rotatable blades and the log lengths are then moved to stored positions on the vehicle. By virtue of the location of the tree processing apparatus at a position spaced from the apparatus which initially grips and severs the tree, one tree can be processed while the vehicle is moving toward and severing another tree to be processed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Propst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:25
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; A01G23/08; A01G23/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
The method of harvesting trees utilizing a moving vehicle comprising the steps of: a. gripping a tree to be harvested; b. severing said tree from its base; c. maintaining said tree upright and rotating said gripped upright tree about a substantially vertical axis which is spaced from said tree a substantially uniform distance to a processing position; and d. separating said tree into logs of predetermined length while said tree is in said processing position concurrently with moving said vehicle toward another tree to be harvested.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
The method of harvesting trees utilizing a moving vehicle comprising the steps of: a. gripping a tree to be harvested; b. severing said tree from its base; c. maintaining said tree upright and rotating said gripped upright tree about a substantially vertical axis which is spaced from said tree a substantially uniform distance to a processing position; and d. separating said tree into logs of predetermined length while said tree is in said processing position concurrently with moving said vehicle toward another tree to be harvested.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 further including the step of lifting said tree following gripping thereof and prior to location of said tree in said processing position and maintaining said tree upright in said processing position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a forwardly movable vehicle, means on the forward end of said vehicle operable to sever a tree from its base, means for gripping said severed tree and maintaining said tree in an upright position, means for rotating said gripped and severed tree about a substantially vertical axis substantially uniformly spaced from said tree to a processing position spaced from said severing means, and means on said vehicle operable in said processing position of said tree to feed said tree downwardly concurrently with severing lower portions of said tree into log lengths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a forwardly movable vehicle, means on the forward end of said vehicle operable to sever a tree from its base, means for gripping said severed tree and maintaining said tree in an upright position, means for rotating said gripped and severed tree about a substantially vertical axis substantially uniformly spaced from said tree to a processing position spaced from said severing means, and means on said vehicle operable in said processing position of said tree to feed said tree downwardly concurrently with severing lower portions of said tree into log lengths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 further including means for lifting said tree upwardly between severing and positioning of said tree in said processing position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 further including an upright mast on the forward end of said vehicle, means rotatably mounting said tree gripping means on said mast, means operable to rotate said tree gripping means about said mast, and cam and cam follower means operatively associated with said rotating means to provide for upward movement of said gripping means during rotation thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said gripping means comprises vertically spaced releasable clamp units and further including tree gripping and feeding rollers located so as to grip said tree in said processing position thereof and being operable to feed said tree downwardly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for processing trees comprising means for continuously feeding a tree in one direction, tree cutoff means comprising a pair of rotary blades pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said tree and having cutting ends engageable with said tree, said blades being rotatable in opposite directions with respect to each other so that said cutting ends move in a path which is in the same general direction as said tree movement during movement of said cutting ends through said tree, said blades being positioned so that on concurrent rotation thereof said cutting ends will be moved to closely spaced adjacent positions so as to cut through said tree, and spring means associated with each of said blades so as to resiliently urge said blade in said direction of rotation to thereby enable each blade to move back against the pressure of the spring therefor so as to adjust the blade movement into a tree so that the blade can perform a substantially straight line cutoff action.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for processing trees comprising means for continuously feeding a tree in one direction, tree cutoff means comprising a pair of rotary blades pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said tree and having cutting ends engageable with said tree, said blades being rotatable in opposite directions with respect to each other so that said cutting ends move in a path which is in the same general direction as said tree movement during movement of said cutting ends through said tree, said blades being positioned so that on concurrent rotation thereof said cutting ends will be moved to closely spaced adjacent positions so as to cut through said tree, and spring means associated with each of said blades so as to resiliently urge said blade in said direction of rotation to thereby enable each blade to move back against the pressure of the spring therefor so as to adjust the blade movement into a tree so that the blade can perform a substantially straight line cutoff action.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for gripping said severed tree comprises as least one drive roller having an external surface disposed in gripping engagement with said tree and wherein said means for lifting said tree includes a drive motor for said roller operable to rotate said roller in a direction to lift said tree.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 further including tree cutoff means disposed below said drive roller and operable in said processing position of said tree to cut said tree into log lengths.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for feeding said tree downwardly in said processing position comprises said drive roller and said drive motor and wherein said cutoff means comprises a pair of rotary blades pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said tree, said blades having cutting ends and being rotatable in opposite directions with respect to each other so that said cutting ends will be moved radially inwardly and downwardly into said downwardly moving tree, said cutting ends being movable into adjacent positions to cut off said tree.
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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) | 1975-12-26 | 1976-06-26 | 1976-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-26 | 1980-06-26 | 1980-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-26 | 1984-06-26 | 1984-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |