US3797541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine for harvesting and accumulating trees
Assignee: Amca International Ltd
•
Filing: 1972-12-15
•
Granted: 1974-03-19
•
Expires: 1992-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A tree harvesting machine of the articulated type having a boom mounted tree-processing means at its front end and a felled tree accumulating box at its rear end. The tree-processing means is selectively rotatable on the boom and comprises selectively operable releasable gripping means, severing means, propelling means and delimbing means. The accumulating box comprises an upwardly tilted trough open at its front end and log directing means in the form of a downwardly sloped ledge are provided adjacent the open end of the trough. A tailgate is provided at the rear end of the trough. The forward end of the box is upwardly movable by hydraulic cylinders to increase trough tilt during unloading. In the method of operation, a standing tree is grasped by the gripping means, severed from its trunk while upright, tipped forwardly to felled position by rotation of the gripping means so that its severed or butt end faces the box, and moved axially rearwardly and upwardly by the propelling means over the log directing ledge near the box, while the limbs are simultaneously removed by the delimbing means. When the center of gravity of that portion of the severed tree which is to be loaded in the box has moved past the ledge, the severing means are operated to cut off the said portion of the tree which portion tips over the ledge and falls into the box. The machine is usable to harvest entire trees with only the upper end being topped. Or, a tree may be cut into desired lengths as it is moved by the propelling means.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kurelek
- 👤 V Locker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:42
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; A01G23/08; A01G23/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
30 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein said tree processing means further includes means for delimbing said log while it is being moved toward said one end of said box.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
A machine according to claim 2 wherein said tree processing means further includes means for severing said log from its remainder to effect its release for tipping over said log directing means into said box.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein said accumulating box comprises a trough having an open end disposed toward said one end of said vehicle, and wherein said portion of said log directing means is disposed adjacent said open end of said trough and slopes downwardly toward said trough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A machine according to claim 4 wherein said trough slopes rearwardly and downwardly from its open end, and wherein said box is provided with releasable tailgate means at the lower rear end of said trough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A machine according to claim 5 wherein said log directing means comprises two portions over which a log can tip, said portions being disposed adjacent said open end of said trough on opposite sides thereof and each portion sloping downwardly toward said trough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine according to claim 5 including means connected between said vehicle and said box for moving said one end of said box to increase the slope of said trough to facilitate unloading logs from said box.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
A tree harvesting machine comprising: a vehicle; an accumulating box mounted on said vehicle; log directing means mounted near one end of said box, said log directing means having a portion over which a log in contact therewith can tip into said box; and tree processing means on said vehicle spaced from said one end of said box, said tree processing means comprising: releasable tree gripping means for gripping a standing tree and for supporting it while in felled position; severing means for severing the standing gripped tree and for performing other subsequent severing operations thereon; means for shifting the severed gripped tree from upright to felled position; propelling means for axially moving the severed tree in felled position toward said one end of said box and over said portion of said log directing means; and delimbing means for removing limbs from the axially moving severed tree.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
A machine according to claim 8 wherein said vehicle is self-propelled and comprises a front unit and a rear unit pivotally connected to said front unit; and further comprising a horizontally and vertically movable boom mounted on said front unit of said vehicle; wherein said tree processing means are movably mounted on the working end of said boom; and wherein said accumulating box is mounted on said rear unit of said vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
223 words
A tree harvesting machine comprising: a self-propelled vehicle comprising a front unit and a rear unit pivotally connected to said front unit; an accumulating box mounted on the rear unit of said vehicle and comprising a trough sloping upwardly toward said front unit, said trough hAving an opening at its upper end and an opening at its lower end; tailgate means on said box for opening and closing the opening at the lower end of said trough; log directing means mounted near the opening at the upper end of said trough and having at least one portion over which a log in contact therewith can tip into said trough, said portion sloping downwardly toward the axis of said trough; a horizontally and vertically movable boom mounted on said front unit of said vehicle; and tree processing means movably connected to the working end of said boom, said tree processing means comprising selectively operable gripping means, selectively operable severing means, selectively operable tree propelling means, and selectively operable delimbing means, said tree processing means being adapted to sever a standing tree, to rotate it to felled position, to move it axially toward said box while delimbing it and over said portion of said log directing means, and to sever a log therefrom which tips over said log directing means and falls into said trough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A machine according to claim 10 wherein said boom is pivotally movable to either side of said front unit of said vehicle, and wherein said log directing means comprises two of said portions over which a log can tip, said portions being disposed adjacent said opening at the upper end of said trough in opposite sides thereof, each portion sloping downwardly toward said trough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A machine according to claim 10 wherein said box is pivotally mounted on said rear unit of said vehicle, and further including means connected between said rear unit and said box for moving said box to increase the slope of said trough to facilitate unloading logs from said box.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A machine according to claim 10 wherein said boom comprises a rear section and a forward section pivotally connected to said rear section; wherein said rear boom section is mounted for horizontal and vertical pivotal movement on the front unit of said vehicle; and wherein said tree processing means is mounted at the working end of said forward boom section, said tree processing means being rotatably movable in a first plane in which the forward boom section lies, said tree processing means being further rotatably movable in another plane normal to said first plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A machine according to claim 13 wherein said tree processing means comprises a supporting frame; wherein said tree severing means are located near one end of said frame; wherein said tree gripping means are located near the other end of said frame; and wherein said propelling means and said delimbing means are located on said frame intermediately of said gripping means and said severing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3498347A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |