US3746193A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Logging machine
Assignee: Taylor Machine Works Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-30
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1992-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A self-propelled log grapple and skidding vehicle for grappling the one end of one or a group of felled trees to skiddingly drag the trees from a wooded area to a clearing for further processing. The vehicle includes a movable boom having a grappling device depending therefrom and winching apparatus for snaking felled trees out of areas that are inaccessible to the vehicle. The boom is operably moved by hydraulic lift and tilt cylinder devices which are positioned in such a manner that they are provided maximum protection, i. e., not susceptible to being damaged when the heavy trees supported by the grappling device inadvertently collide with the vehicle. A mounting support of a fair lead for the winching apparatus is included which will assure that the winch line load is not imposed on the boom or the lift cylinders.
Inventors
- 👤 R Eaves
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:23
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66C; B66C1/00; B66C1/10; B66C1/42; B66C1/58; B66C1/585; B66C13/00; B66C13/18; B66C2700/00; B66C2700/06; B66C2700/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
418 words
A self-propelled log skidder grapple machine for grappling a plurality of parellel 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 the 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; including operable winch means having a winch line for snaking logs from certain locations which may be inaccessible to the machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
418 words
A self-propelled log skidder grapple machine for grappling a plurality of parellel 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 the 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; including operable winch means having a winch line for snaking logs from certain locations which may be inaccessible to the machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
The machine of claim 1 in which said winch means includes a fairlead for said winch line, said fairlead comprising at least one horizontally disposed roller means and a pair of vertically disposed roller means, said horizontal roller means being positioned superjacent said horizontal boxlike member of said support means and rotatably attached to said pair of vertical boxlike members thereof, and said pair of vertical roller means respectively being positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said horizontal roller means and rotatably attached to said upwardly directed leg portions of said vertical members of said support means so that the winch line load is exclusively supported by said support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a self-propelled log skidder grapple machine of the type including a boom, a grapple depending therefrom, and a winch assembly including a winch line, means for anchoring the end of said winch line to said grapple comprising an anchor plate, means pivotally mounting said anchor plate from said grapple for pivot between a normal position adjacent said grapple and raised angular positions relative to said grapple, stop means on said line adjacent the end thereof, said anchor plate being provided with a slot extending from an edge of said plate inwardly and having a width greater than the diameter of said line but less than the size of said stop means, whereby said line is adapted to be removably received in said slot with said stop means adjacent said plate on the remote side thereof from said grapple to removably anchor tHe end of said line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a self-propelled log skidder grapple machine of the type including a boom, a grapple depending therefrom, and a winch assembly including a winch line, means for anchoring the end of said winch line to said grapple comprising an anchor plate, means pivotally mounting said anchor plate from said grapple for pivot between a normal position adjacent said grapple and raised angular positions relative to said grapple, stop means on said line adjacent the end thereof, said anchor plate being provided with a slot extending from an edge of said plate inwardly and having a width greater than the diameter of said line but less than the size of said stop means, whereby said line is adapted to be removably received in said slot with said stop means adjacent said plate on the remote side thereof from said grapple to removably anchor tHe end of said line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which is included means on said grapple for blocking the end of said sot when said plate is in said normal position to prevent accidental removal of said line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3477596A
Cited
US3687315A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |