Hydraulically actuated device for shaking trees

Claim 1

A hydraulically actuated tree clamping and tree shaking device mounted on a mobile unit, which device comprises; a. a boom secured to and extending outwardly from the mobile unit, b. a housing supported by said boom near the outer end thereof transversely with respect thereto, 1. elastomer support means intermediate said boom and said housing, 2. a pair of eccentric members journaled within said housing for rotation thereof about a common axis to impart vibratory motion to said housing transversely of said boom, c. a hydraulic motor mounted on said housing and having drive means thereof extending into said Housing, d. endless transmission means connected with said drive means on said hydraulic motor and with said eccentric members to drive said eccentric members in opposite directions to create the vibratory motion transversely of the boom and of the mobile unit, e. an arm slidably secured to said housing, 1. said arm having an inturned jaw thereon near the outer end thereof, 2. an elastomer pad mounted on an inner face of said housing, 3. an elastomer pad mounted on said inturned jaw in opposed relation to the elastomer pad mounted on said inner face of said housing, f. a hydraulic cylinder-plunger assembly interconnecting said housing and said arm to move said arm relative to said housing, g. a hydraulic reservoir detachably connected to the mobile unit, h. a hydraulic pump detachably connected in operative relation with the mobile unit, i. a single lever, manually actuated hydraulic control valve, 1. a discharge conduit connected with said hydraulic pump and with said hydraulic control valve, j. a hydraulically actuated spring pressure closing sequence valve, 1. a branch conduit of said discharge conduit connected in fluid communication with said sequence valve, 2. a conduit leading from said sequence valve to said hydraulic motor, k. conduits interconnecting opposite ends of said hydraulic cylinder-plunger assembly with said hydraulic control valve, 1. movement of said manually actuated single lever on said hydraulic control valve, in one direction, causing said manually actuated hydraulic control valve to direct hydraulic fluid under pressure to one end of the hydraulic cylinder of said cylinder-plunger assembly to move said arm, carrying said inturned jaw, toward said housing to clamp a tree trunk between said elastomer pads, 1. said sequence valve opening when a predetermined fluid pressure is exerted thereon to clamp the tree trunk between said elastomer pads for diverting hydraulic fluid under pressure through said conduit leading therefrom to said hydraulic motor, 1. a discharge conduit leading from said hydraulic motor to said hydraulic reservoir to discharge hydraulic fluid from said motor thereinto, and 2. movement of said manually actuated lever in a direction opposite to said one direction decreasing pressure on said sequence valve to stop the flow of hydraulic fluid to said motor, and upon further movement of the lever, directing hydraulic fluid under pressure to the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder to cause relative movement between the cylinder and plunger of the cylinder-plunger assembly and said inturned jaw on said arm to release the elastomer pads from engagement with the tree trunk and to direct the fluid from the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder into said conduit leading to said reservoir.