Delimbing assembly for tree harvesters

Claim 2

A tree harvester assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising drive means for gripping and axially moving a tree and delimbing means arranged for engagement with the three held by the drive means, the delimbing means including: a frame, a central member secured to the frame, a pair of elongated, flexible blades each secured at one end to the central member, and having a number of pivotably interconnected elements, the elements of the two blades and the central member each having a cutting edge, the two flexible blades being arranged in axially offset relation, two levers being pivoted to the frame at points behind and laterally spaced from the connection of said blades to said central member and respectively connected to the free ends of the blades, and hydraulic motor means parallel to a line connecting the arm pivot points, effectively interconnected between the frame and the levers at pivot points on said frame and adjacent said lateral pivot points, the motor means and levers being arranged for moving the free ends along overlapping arcuate paths into a first position forming an opening for receiving the tree and into a second position where the free ends overlap in varying degrees depending on the size of each tree so that portions of both blades and the central member are in close contact with the entire circumference of the tree, the motor means being effective in the second position to positively urge both blades into constant engagement with the tree as it is moved axially by the drive means.

Claim 3

A tree harvester assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising drive means for gripping and axially moving a tree and delimbing means arranged for engagement with the three held by the drive means, the delimbing means including: a frame, a central member secured to the frame, a pair of elongated, flexible blades each secured at one end to the central member, and having a number of pivotably interconnected elements, the elements of the two blades and the central member each having a cutting edge, the two flexible blades being arranged in axially offset relation, two levers being pivoted to the frame at points behind and laterally spaced from the connection of said blades to said central member and respectively connected to the free ends of the blades, and hydraulic motor means parallel to a line connecting the arm pivot points, effectively interconnected between the frame and the levers at pivot points on said frame and adjacent said lateral pivot points, the motor means and levers being arranged for moving the free ends along overlapping arcuate paths into a first position forming an opening for receiving the tree and into a second position where the free ends overlap in varying degrees depending on the size of each tree so that portions of both blades and the central member are in close contact with the entire circumference of the tree, the motor means being effective in the second position to positively urge both blades into constant engagement with the tree as it is moved axially by the drive means.

Claim 4

A tree harvester assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising drive means for gripping and axially moving a tree and delimbing means arranged for engagement with the three held by the drive means, the delimbing means including: a frame, a central member secured to the frame, a pair of elongated, flexible blades each secured at one end to the central member, and having a number of pivotably interconnected elements, the elements of the two blades and the central member each having a cutting edge, the two flexible blades being arranged in axially offset relation, two levers being pivoted to the frame at points behind and laterally spaced from the connection of said blades to said central member and respectively connected to the free ends of the blades, and hydraulic motor means parallel to a line connecting the arm pivot points, effectively interconnected between the frame and the levers at pivot points on said frame and adjacent said lateral pivot points, the motor means and levers being arranged for moving the free ends along overlapping arcuate paths into a first position forming an opening for receiving the tree and into a second position where the free ends overlap in varying degrees depending on the size of each tree so that portions of both blades and the central member are in close contact with the entire circumference of the tree, the motor means being effective in the second position to positively urge both blades into constant engagement with the tree as it is moved axially by the drive means.

Claim 5

The tree harvester of claim 1 wherein one end of each lever is pivoted to the frame on an opposite side of the central member, the other ends of the levers extending outwardly from the frame and angling toward each other to respectively support the free ends of the flexible blades, the motor means comprising a respective hydraulic jack pivotally interconnected with the frame and both levers adjacent the one end of each, the two blades each comprising a plurality of hinged elements each having a cutting edge, the cutting edges of the plurality of elements in the blades and the central member cooperating to form substantially continuous cutting surfaces when the blades are overlapped about the tree.

Claim 6

The tree harvester assembly of claim 1 further comprising a shear assembly also supported on the frame together with the drive means and delimbIng means.

Claim 7

A tree harvester assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising drive means for gripping and axially moving a tree and a delimbing assembly arranged for engagement with the tree held by the gripping means, the delimbing assembly including: a frame, a pair of elongated, flexible blades each having one end secured to the frame and being formed from a number of pivotably interconnected elements having sharpened edges, the two flexible blades being arranged in axially offset relation with each other and each having a free end, two levers each pivoted at one end to the frame at points behind and laterally spaced from the connection of said blades to said frame, the other ends of the levers extending outwardly from the frame and angling toward each other to support the respective free ends of the flexible blades, and motor means parallel to a line connecting the arm pivot points effectively coupled with the frame and levers at pivot points on said frame and adjacent said lateral pivot points, the motor means being arranged for separating the free ends of the blades to form an opening for receiving the tree and for overlapping the free ends of the blades to present a substantially continuous cutting edge in close contact with the entire circumference of the tree, the motor means being further effective to positively urge the free ends of the blade means into overlapping engagement with the tree.

Claim 8

A tree harvester assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising drive means for gripping and axially moving a tree and a delimbing assembly arranged for engagement with the tree held by the gripping means, the delimbing assembly including: a frame, a pair of elongated, flexible blades each having one end secured to the frame and being formed from a number of pivotably interconnected elements having sharpened edges, the two flexible blades being arranged in axially offset relation with each other and each having a free end, two levers each pivoted at one end to the frame at points behind and laterally spaced from the connection of said blades to said frame, the other ends of the levers extending outwardly from the frame and angling toward each other to support the respective free ends of the flexible blades, and motor means parallel to a line connecting the arm pivot points effectively coupled with the frame and levers at pivot points on said frame and adjacent said lateral pivot points, the motor means being arranged for separating the free ends of the blades to form an opening for receiving the tree and for overlapping the free ends of the blades to present a substantially continuous cutting edge in close contact with the entire circumference of the tree, the motor means being further effective to positively urge the free ends of the blade means into overlapping engagement with the tree.

Claim 9

A tree harvester assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising drive means for gripping and axially moving a tree and a delimbing assembly arranged for engagement with the tree held by the gripping means, the delimbing assembly including a frame, a pair of elongated, flexible blades each having one end secured relative a portion of the frame and being formed from a number of pivotably interconnected elements having sharpened edges, the two flexible blades being arranged in axially offset relation with each other and each having a free end, lever means being interconnected between the frame and the free ends of the blades, and motor means effectively coupled with the frame and the free ends of both blades through the lever means, the motor means being arranged for separating the free ends of the blades to form an opening for receiving a tree and for overlapping the free ends of the blades to present a substantially continuous cutting edge in close contact with the entire circumference of the tree, the motor means being further effective to positively urge the free ends of the blade means into overlapping engagement with the tree, the drive means being mounted on the same frame as the delimbing assembly and including an endless track arranged for rotation on the frame, the track having projections along its length for engaging the tree, motor means for operating the track and gripping members for securing the tree against a portion of the endless track, the endless track and gripping members being arranged on the frame to support and axially drive the tree through the delimbing assembly.

Claim 10

A tree harvester assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising drive means for gripping and axially moving a tree and a delimbing assembly arranged for engagement with the tree held by the gripping means, the delimbing assembly including a frame, a pair of elongated, flexible blades each having one end secured relative a portion of the frame and being formed from a number of pivotably interconnected elements having sharpened edges, the two flexible blades being arranged in axially offset relation with each other and each having a free end, lever means being interconnected between the frame and the free ends of the blades, and motor means effectively coupled with the frame and the free ends of both blades through the lever means, the motor means being arranged for separating the free ends of the blades to form an opening for receiving a tree and for overlapping the free ends of the blades to present a substantially continuous cutting edge in close contact with the entire circumference of the tree, the motor means being further effective to positively urge the free ends of the blade means into overlapping engagement with the tree, the drive means being mounted on the same frame as the delimbing assembly and including an endless track arranged for rotation on the frame, the track having projections along its length for engaging the tree, motor means for operating the track and gripping members for securing the tree against a portion of the endless track, the endless track and gripping members being arranged on the frame to support and axially drive the tree through the delimbing assembly.