Pulpwood harvester

Claim 2

A delimbing mechanism comprising: a frame, a first blade fixed to the frame, a second blade pivotally mounted on the Frame, a third blade pivotally mounted on the frame, a fourth blade pivotally mounted on the frame, a fifth blade pivotally mounted on the frame, power means attached between the second and third blades for pivoting the blades relative to the frame so as to clamp a tree between the first, second and third blades, means connecting the second blade to the fourth blade for simultaneous movement of those blades in opposite directions, and means connecting the third blade to the fifth blade for simultaneous movement of those blades in opposite directions.

Claim 3

The delimbing mechanism of claim 1 including means on the frame for severing the tree from its stump and for cutting the tree into sections.

Claim 4

The delimbing mechanism of claim 1 including means on the frame for moving a tree past the blades for delimbing the tree.

Claim 5

The delimbing mechanism of claim 3 including means on the frame for severing the tree from its stump and for cutting the tree into sections after it passes through the delimbing blades.

Claim 6

A tree harvesting machine comprising: an end loading type vehicle having pivotable lift arms and tilt means arranged at one end thereof, a rigid support structure pivotally connected in transversely spaced apart relation to the respective lift arms and pivotally connected in transversely spaced apart relation to the tilt means at said end of the vehicle, the support structure extending transversely toward one side of the vehicle, said pivotal connections for the lift arms being offset from said pivotal connection for said tilt means, and an elongated frame rigidly attached to the supporting structure in transversely offset relation beyond one side of the vehicle, the frame including a shear mechanism arranged at one end thereof, a delimbing mechanism being arranged toward the other end of the frame and a drive and clamping mechanism being arranged on the frame between the shear and delimbing mechanisms, the lift arms being pivotable to raise and lower the rigidly interconnected support structure and elongated frame, the tilt means being operable to rotate the support structure by its pivotable connection with the lift arms and thereby shift the rigidly interconnected elongated frame including said shear and delimbing mechanisms between a generally vertical position with the shear mechanism arranged at the lower end thereof to receive a standing tree and a generally horizontal position for processing the tree.

Claim 7

A tree harvesting machine comprising: an end loading type vehicle having pivotable lift arms and tilt means arranged at one end thereof, a rigid support structure pivotally connected in transversely spaced apart relation to the respective lift arms and pivotally connected in transversely spaced apart relation to the tilt means at said end of the vehicle, the support structure extending transversely toward one side of the vehicle, said pivotal connections for the lift arms being offset from said pivotal connection for said tilt means, and an elongated frame rigidly attached to the supporting structure in transversely offset relation beyond one side of the vehicle, the frame including a shear mechanism arranged at one end thereof, a delimbing mechanism being arranged toward the other end of the frame and a drive and clamping mechanism being arranged on the frame between the shear and delimbing mechanisms, the lift arms being pivotable to raise and lower the rigidly interconnected support structure and elongated frame, the tilt means being operable to rotate the support structure by its pivotable connection with the lift arms and thereby shift the rigidly interconnected elongated frame including said shear and delimbing mechanisms between a generally vertical position with the shear mechanism arranged at the lower end thereof to receive a standing tree and a generally horizontal position for processing the tree.

Claim 8

A tree harvester according to claim 5, additionally including drive roll means for moving a tree through said harvester comprising: a frame, a first roller fixed on the frame for rotation about its axis, a second roller pivotally mounted on the frame and rotatable about its axis, a third roller pivotally mounted on the frame and rotatable about its axis, and power means suspended between the second and third roller for pivoting those rollers so as to clamp a tree between the first, second, and third rollers.

Claim 9

The drive roll mechanism of claim 5 including means mounted on the frame for powering the first roller for rotation about its axis.

Claim 10

The drive mechanism of claim 6 including means fixed to at least one of the first, second, or third rollers for powering the at least one roller about its axis.

Claim 11

The drive roll mechanism of claim 8 including means on the frame for delimbing the trunk of the tree as it is driven through the mechanism by the rollers.

Claim 12

The drive roll mechanism of claim 9 including means on the frame for severing the tree from its stump and for cutting the tree into sections as it passes through the mechanism.

Claim 13

The drive roll mechanism of claim 6 including means on the frame for severing the tree from its stump and for cutting the tree into sections as it passes through the mechanism.

Claim 14

The tree harvester of claim 5 wherein the clamping and drive mechanism include means for clamping a standing tree with the frame in its vertical position while the tree is severed by the shear mechanism and means for moving the severed tree past the delimbing mechanism for removing limbs from the tree.

Claim 15

The tree harvester of claim 5 wherein the support structure comprises bracket means pivotally connected to the tilt means above the pivotal connection between the support structure and the lift arms.

Claim 16

The tree harvester of claim 5 wherein the delimbing mechanism comprises blade means movable between a position to receive the tree and a position in clamped engagement about the tree, the drive and clamping mechanism comprising drive means fixedly mounted to a midportion of the elongated frame for rotatable engagement with the tree and clamping arms pivotally coupled to the frame for movement between a position to receive the tree and a position to clamp the tree in engagement with the drive means.

Claim 17

A tree harvesting machine comprising a frame, a delimber mounted on the frame and comprising a first blade fixed to the frame, a second blade, and a third blade, each pivotally mounted on the frame for horizontal movement relative thereto, a fourth blade pivotally mounted on the frame, a fifth blade pivotally mounted on the frame, means connecting the second and fourth blades for simultaneous movement thereof in opposite directions, and means connecting the third and fifth blades for simultaneous movement thereof in opposite directions, a drive roll mechanism mounted on the frame and comprising a first roller fixed on the frame for rotation about its axis, a second roller, a third roller, and means mounting the second and third rollers on the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto, and a shear mounted on the frame and comprising a pair of flat, coplanar blades, and means mounting the blades for pivotal movement relative to the frame.

Claim 18

A tree harvesting machine comprising a frame, a delimber mounted on the frame and comprising a first blade fixed to the frame, a second blade, and a third blade, each pivotally mounted on the frame for horizontal movement relative thereto, a fourth blade pivotally mounted on the frame, a fifth blade pivotally mounted on the frame, means connecting the second and fourth blades for simultaneous movement thereof in opposite directions, and means connecting the third and fifth blades for simultaneous movement thereof in opposite directions, a drive roll mechanism mounted on the frame and comprising a first roller fixed on the frame for rotation about its axis, a second roller, a third roller, and means mounting the second and third rollers on the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto, and a shear mounted on the frame and comprising a pair of flat, coplanar blades, and means mounting the blades for pivotal movement relative to the frame.

Claim 19

The tree harvesting machine of claim 15 wherein the drive roll mechanism further comprises power means suspended between the second and third roller pivotal mounting means for pivoting those rollers so as to clamp a tree between the first, second and third rollers.

Claim 20

The tree harvesting machine of claim 16 wherein the drive roll mechanism further includes means fixed to at least one of the first, second, or third rollers for powering at least one of the first, second, or third rollers for powering at least one roller about its axis.

Claim 21

The tree harvesting machine of claim 16 wherein the shear further comprises a cutting edge on each blade, and power means suspended between the blade mounting means for pivoting the blades to and from a position wherein the cutting edges are in abutting relationship.

Claim 22

A tree harvesting machine comprising: an end loading type vehicle having pivotable lift arms and tilt means arranged at one end thereof, a rigid support structure pivotally connected in transversely spaced apart relation to the respective lift arms and pivotally connected in transversely spaced apart relation to the tilt means at said end of the vehicle, the support structure extending transversely toward one side of the vehicle, said pivotal connections for the lift arms being offset from said pivotal connection for said tilt means, and an elongated frame rigidly attached to the supporting structure in transversely offset relation beyond one side of the vehicle, the frame including a cut-off mechanism arranged at one end thereof, a delimbing mechanism being arranged toward the other end of the frame and a drive and clamping mechanism being arranged on the frame between the cut-off and delimbing mechanisms, the lift arms being pivotable to raise and lower the rigidly interconnected support structure and elongated frame, the tilt means being operable to rotate the support structure by its pivotable connection with the lift arms and thereby shift the rigidly interconnected elongated frAme including said cut-off and delimbing mechanisms between a generally vertical position with the cut-off mechanism arranged at the lower end thereof to receive a standing tree and a generally horizontal position for processing the tree.

Claim 23

A tree harvesting machine comprising: an end loading type vehicle having pivotable lift arms and tilt means arranged at one end thereof, a rigid support structure pivotally connected in transversely spaced apart relation to the respective lift arms and pivotally connected in transversely spaced apart relation to the tilt means at said end of the vehicle, the support structure extending transversely toward one side of the vehicle, said pivotal connections for the lift arms being offset from said pivotal connection for said tilt means, and an elongated frame rigidly attached to the supporting structure in transversely offset relation beyond one side of the vehicle, the frame including a cut-off mechanism arranged at one end thereof, a delimbing mechanism being arranged toward the other end of the frame and a drive and clamping mechanism being arranged on the frame between the cut-off and delimbing mechanisms, the lift arms being pivotable to raise and lower the rigidly interconnected support structure and elongated frame, the tilt means being operable to rotate the support structure by its pivotable connection with the lift arms and thereby shift the rigidly interconnected elongated frAme including said cut-off and delimbing mechanisms between a generally vertical position with the cut-off mechanism arranged at the lower end thereof to receive a standing tree and a generally horizontal position for processing the tree.