Logging machine

Claim 2

A self-propelled log skidder grapple machine for grappling a plurality of parallel arranged tree trunk logs adjacent one of the respective ends thereof to skiddingly drag the logs from a first location to a second location for further processing comprising a tractor-like vehicle having front and rear ends, operable grapple means; boom means for supporting said grapple means, said boom means being coaxially aligned with said vehicle and disposed a spacEd apart distance above the rearward end thereof, said boom means having fore and aft ends with said aft end being free and extending rearwardly beyond said vehicle, and said aft end having said grapple means depending therefrom; fulcrum-like elongated support means for supporting said boom means, said support means having the lower end thereof pivotally attached to the rearward end of said vehicle and the upper end thereof pivotally attached to said boom means a predetermined distance from said fore end thereof; first operable hydraulic cylinder means for selectively raising and lowering said grapple means, said first hydraulic cylinder means having the lower end thereof pivotally attached to said vehicle adjacent the rearward end thereof but forward of said pivotally attached support means, whereby said support means protects said first cylinder means from damage due to the logs being grappled inadvertently colliding with said vehicle, and the upper end of said first hydraulic cylinder means being pivotally attached to said boom means adjacent said fore end thereof so that extending or retracting said first cylinder means causes said boom means to pivot about said upper end of said support means; and second operable hydraulic cylinder means for selectively moving said grapple means forward and rearward, said second cylinder means having one end thereof pivotally attached to said vehicle adjacent the rearward end thereof but forward of said pivotally attached support means, whereby said support means protects said second cylinder means from damage due to the logs being grappled inadvertently colliding with said vehicle, and the other end of said second cylinder means being pivotally attached to said support means substantially intermediate the ends thereof so that extending or retracing said second cylinder means causes said support means and said first cylinder means to simultaneously pivot about their respective upper and lower pivot points.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 in which said fulcrum-like support means comprises H-shaped structure including a pair of vertically disposed boxlike members interconnected intermediate the ends thereof with a horizontally disposed boxlike member to define a pair of upwardly directed leg portions of said vertical members and a pair of downwardly directed leg portions of said vertical members, the lower ends of said downwardly directed leg portions each being pivotally attached to said vehicle.

Claim 4

The machine of claim 2 in which said first operable hydraulic cylinder means comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means, said pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means being arranged in parallel relationship one with the other for actuation in unison between extended and retracted dispositions.

Claim 5

The machine of claim 3 in which said second operable hydraulic cylinder means comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means, said pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means being arranged in parallel relationship one with the other for actuation in unison between extended and retracted dispositions.

Claim 6

A self-propelled log skidder grapple machine for grappling a plurality of parallel arranged tree trunk logs adjacent one of the respective ends thereof to skiddingly drag the logs from a first location to a second location for further processing comprising a tractor-like vehicle having front and rear ends, operable grapple means; boom means for supporting said grapple means, said boom means being coaxially aligned with said vehicle and disposed a spaced apart distance above the rearward end thereof, said boom means having fore and aft ends with said aft end being free and extending rearwardly beyond said vehicle, and said aft end having said grapple means depending therefrom; fulcrum-like elongated support means for supporting said boom means, said support means having the lower end thereof pivotally attached to the rearward end of said vehicle and the upper end thereof pivotally attached to said boom means a pRedetermined distance from said fore end thereof; first operable hydraulic cylinder means for selectively raising and lowering said grapple means, said first hydraulic cylinder means having the lower end thereof pivotally attached to said vehicle adjacent the rearward end thereof but forward of said pivotally attached support means, and the upper end of said first hydraulic cylinder means being pivotally attached to said boom means adjacent said fore end thereof so that extending or retracting said first cylinder means causes said boom means to pivot about said upper end of said support means; and second operable hydraulic cylinder means for selectively moving said grapple means forward and rearward, said second cylinder means having one end thereof pivotally attached to said vehicle adjacent the rearward end thereof but forward of said pivotally attached support means, and the other end of said second cylinder means being pivotally attached to said support means substantially intermediate the ends thereof so that extending or retracting said second cylinder means causes said support means and said first cylinder means to simultaneously pivot about their respective upper and lower pivot points; said fulcrum-like support means comprising H-shaped structure including a pair of vertically disposed boxlike members interconnected intermediate the ends thereof with a horizontally disposed boxlike member to define a pair of upwardly directed leg portions of said vertical members and a pair of downwardly directed leg portions of said vertical members, the lower ends of said downwardly directed leg portions each being pivotally attached to said vehicle; said first operable hydraulic cylinder means comprising a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means, said pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means being arranged in parallel relationship one with the other for actuation in unison between extended and retracted dispositions; said second operable hydraulic cylinder means comprising a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means, said pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means being arranged in parallel relationship one with the other for actuation in unison between extended and retracted dispositions; said boom means comprising an elongated boxlike main body member, a first pair of outwardly directed support arms having the inner ends thereof fixedly attached to said main body member a predetermined distance from said fore end thereof, the outer ends of said first pair of arms respectively carrying a first pair of downwardly directed clevises for pivotally receiving said upwardly directed leg portions of said vertical members of said support means, and a second pair of outwardly directed support arms having the inner ends thereof fixedly attached to said main body member adjacent the forward end thereof and the outer ends of said second pair of arms respectively carrying a second pair of downwardly directed clevises for pivotally receiving the respective upper ends of said pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means.

Claim 7

A self-propelled log skidder grapple machine for grappling a plurality of parallel arranged tree trunk logs adjacent one of the respective ends thereof to skiddingly drag the logs from a first location to a second location for further processing comprising a tractor-like vehicle having front and rear ends, operable grapple means; boom means for supporting said grapple means, said boom means being coaxially aligned with said vehicle and disposed a spaced apart distance above the rearward end thereof, said boom means having fore and aft ends with said aft end being free and extending rearwardly beyond said vehicle, and said aft end having said grapple means depending therefrom; fulcrum-like elongated support means for supporting said boom means, said support means having the lower end thereof pivotally attached to the rearward end of said vehicle and the upper end thereof pivotally attached to said boom means a pRedetermined distance from said fore end thereof; first operable hydraulic cylinder means for selectively raising and lowering said grapple means, said first hydraulic cylinder means having the lower end thereof pivotally attached to said vehicle adjacent the rearward end thereof but forward of said pivotally attached support means, and the upper end of said first hydraulic cylinder means being pivotally attached to said boom means adjacent said fore end thereof so that extending or retracting said first cylinder means causes said boom means to pivot about said upper end of said support means; and second operable hydraulic cylinder means for selectively moving said grapple means forward and rearward, said second cylinder means having one end thereof pivotally attached to said vehicle adjacent the rearward end thereof but forward of said pivotally attached support means, and the other end of said second cylinder means being pivotally attached to said support means substantially intermediate the ends thereof so that extending or retracting said second cylinder means causes said support means and said first cylinder means to simultaneously pivot about their respective upper and lower pivot points; said fulcrum-like support means comprising H-shaped structure including a pair of vertically disposed boxlike members interconnected intermediate the ends thereof with a horizontally disposed boxlike member to define a pair of upwardly directed leg portions of said vertical members and a pair of downwardly directed leg portions of said vertical members, the lower ends of said downwardly directed leg portions each being pivotally attached to said vehicle; said first operable hydraulic cylinder means comprising a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means, said pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means being arranged in parallel relationship one with the other for actuation in unison between extended and retracted dispositions; said second operable hydraulic cylinder means comprising a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means, said pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means being arranged in parallel relationship one with the other for actuation in unison between extended and retracted dispositions; said boom means comprising an elongated boxlike main body member, a first pair of outwardly directed support arms having the inner ends thereof fixedly attached to said main body member a predetermined distance from said fore end thereof, the outer ends of said first pair of arms respectively carrying a first pair of downwardly directed clevises for pivotally receiving said upwardly directed leg portions of said vertical members of said support means, and a second pair of outwardly directed support arms having the inner ends thereof fixedly attached to said main body member adjacent the forward end thereof and the outer ends of said second pair of arms respectively carrying a second pair of downwardly directed clevises for pivotally receiving the respective upper ends of said pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means.