US3818957A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Land clearing and tree planting site preparation apparatus
Assignee: FORMAC INT Inc
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Filing: 1972-04-20
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1992-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A brush and tree cutting and pulverizing or comminuting apparatus is mounted on a tracked vehicle. The apparatus includes embodiments for ground preparation for tree planting sites. In general, the apparatus has a cutting head which is mounted for movement on an articulated boom which is in turn mounted on the vehicle. The boom is articulated to manipulate the cutting head for lateral, vertical, pitch and roll movements. The cutter head includes a bearing block having a shaft journaled therein. The shaft is driven by a hydraulic motor. A cutting wheel is affixed to the lower free end of the shaft. Preferably the cutting wheel is a massive disc having a plurality of cutting tooth mounting bars arranged in a predetermined configuration on its bottom surface and on its periphery. Cutting teeth are movably attached to the mounting bars. The cutting wheel further includes a plurality of cutting teeth, preferably of two different types, affixed to the top surface of the cutting wheel. Other embodiments of the clearing apparatus include multiple wheels mounted generally for rotation in a horizontal plane on a boom. These cutting wheels can feed pulverized, cleared material to a conveyor for windrowing. The conveyor is attached to the side of the vehicle on which the boom is mounted. Other embodiments of the land clearing apparatus can include multiple booms mounted on the vehicle, each of which has a cutting wheel mounted for rotation thereon. In addition, the apparatus can include a cutting wheel mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane positioned at least in part above a horizontally cutting wheel. This embodiment of the apparatus can include feeder teeth for driving brush downwardly toward the horizontal cutting wheels. In another embodiment of the invention a site preparation wheel is attached to a movable boom in turn mounted on a vehicle. The site preparation wheel can be a massive disc mounted on a hub in turn mounted on a rotatable shaft on the head of the boom. A plurality of massive ground and rock cutting teeth are arranged in a predetermined pattern and affixed to the bottom portion of the disc. The disc can include an auger means mounted coaxially with the hub to initially break ground for the preparation wheel, to guide the ground and rock cutting teeth into appropriate engagement with the site being prepared, and to excavate a planting hole for a tree. The site preparation wheel can also include a plurality of elongate blades mounted on the wheel or hub. The blades have a ground-engaging elongate cutting surface on the bottom thereof. A shroud can be affixed to the outer portion of these elongate blades to retain dirt or earth removed by the blades at the site rather than spewing the loosened dirt aside.
Inventors
- 👤 R Schoonover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:19
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; A01G23/08; A01G23/093; A01G3/00; A01G3/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A land clearing apparatus comprising: articulated support means for attachment at one end to a land vehicle, said support means including an elongate boom having a free end, a cutting wheel carrier attached to the free end of said boom, a shaft journaled in said carrier, cutting wheel means affixed to said shaft, said wheel means comprising a plate having a plurality of cutting members affixed to the bottom and on the periphery thereof and projecting from said wheel, motor means for rotating said shaft mounted on said carrier, and a cutting member mounted on the top of said plate and projecting upwardly therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A land clearing apparatus comprising: articulated support means for attachment at one end to a land vehicle, said support means including an elongate boom having a free end, a cutting wheel carrier attached to the free end of said boom, a shaft journaled in said carrier, cutting wheel means affixed to said shaft, said wheel means comprising a plate having a plurality of cutting members affixed to the bottom and on the periphery thereof and projecting from said wheel, motor means for rotating said shaft mounted on said carrier, and a cutting member mounted on the top of said plate and projecting upwardly therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, said wheel means further comprising: a plurality of cutting members mounted on the top of said plate and projecting upwardly therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said plate is a disc, said cutting members being mounted on the bottom of said disc in a spiral configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cutting members are mounted on the periphery of said disc at varying angles with respect to the plane of said disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said support means and said wheel carrier further comprise: a base member capable of being attached to said vehicle for pivotal movement about a first axis generally perpendicular to the horizontal plane of said vehicle, said boom pivotally mounted to said base member about a second axis generally transverse to said first axis, said boom comprising a first section and a second section, said first section pivotally mounted on said second section about a third axis generally perpendicular to said second axis, said wheel carrier being pivotally mounted to the free end of said boom about a fourth axis generally parallel to said second axis, and hydraulic cylinder means for rotating the portions of said support means about the respective axes, said motor means comprising a hydraulic motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second section of said boom comprises two end plates, one of which is pivotally mounted on said first section and the other of which is pivotally connected to said wheel carrier, and a pair of parallel links pivotally connecting said end plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the locus of lines circumscribed by the cutting edges of said teeth cover a substantial portion of the effective area of said wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said support means is mounted on said vehicle to swing generally laterally from side-to-side to cover a cutting swath wider than said vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
216 words
Land clearing apparatus comprising: a land vehicle having ground engaging motive means thereon, boom means mounted at one end on said vehicle, said boom means including a first bearing block mounted on the free end thereof, said bearing block having a first shaft journaled therein for rotation about a first axis, said boom means being adjustable to vary the orientation of said shaft from a substantially vertical position to various angular positions relative to the orientation of said vehicle, first cutting wheel means mounted on said shaft, said first cutting wheel means having a plurality of teeth mounted on the bottom, and periphery thereof and projecting from said wheel at spaced locations thereon, hydraulic motor means for rotating said first shaft mounted on said bearing block, said boom means further comprising a second bearing block mounted on the free end thereof and having a second shaft journaled therein for rotation about a second axis generally transverse to said first axis, a second cutting wheel means mounted on said second shaft and positioned above said first cutting wheel means, said second cutting wheel means having a plurality of teeth mounted on the periphery thereof, the cutting edges of said teeth being spaced from said first cutting wheel means, and hydraulic motor means for rotating said second shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
216 words
Land clearing apparatus comprising: a land vehicle having ground engaging motive means thereon, boom means mounted at one end on said vehicle, said boom means including a first bearing block mounted on the free end thereof, said bearing block having a first shaft journaled therein for rotation about a first axis, said boom means being adjustable to vary the orientation of said shaft from a substantially vertical position to various angular positions relative to the orientation of said vehicle, first cutting wheel means mounted on said shaft, said first cutting wheel means having a plurality of teeth mounted on the bottom, and periphery thereof and projecting from said wheel at spaced locations thereon, hydraulic motor means for rotating said first shaft mounted on said bearing block, said boom means further comprising a second bearing block mounted on the free end thereof and having a second shaft journaled therein for rotation about a second axis generally transverse to said first axis, a second cutting wheel means mounted on said second shaft and positioned above said first cutting wheel means, said second cutting wheel means having a plurality of teeth mounted on the periphery thereof, the cutting edges of said teeth being spaced from said first cutting wheel means, and hydraulic motor means for rotating said second shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: a plurality of said boom means mounted on said vehicle, each of said boom means having a cutting wheel means mounted thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said boom means are interconnected to move together in a vertical plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of said boom means are mounted for independent movement on said vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said boom means comprises a plurality of said bearing blocks each having rotatively mounted shafts therein, each of said shafts having a cutting wheel means mounted thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said boom means has a longitudinal dimension and wherein said second shaft is oriented generally longitudinally with respect to said boom means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second shaft is oriented generally transversely with respect to said boom means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising: a third bearing block mounted on the free end of said boom and having a third shaft mounted therein for rotation about a third axis generally parallel to said first axis, third cutting wheel means mounted beside said first cutting wheel means on said third shaft, said second shaft extending laterally across and above said first and third wheel means, said second shaft having a plurality of feeder teeth mounted thereon, and hydraulic motor means for driving said third shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising: a guard frame mounted on said vehicle having at least its lower portion positioned rearwardly of said first and third wheel means and extending upwardly from said vehicle, said guard frame extending substantially across the lateral extent of said first and third cutting wheel means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said guard frame is pivotally mounted along a generally transverse axis with respect to said vehicle, said apparatus further comprising hydraulic cylinder means for pivoting said guard frame about said generally transverse axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
A brush and tree clearing cutting wheel comprising: mounting plate means including a hub capable of attachment to a rotatable shaft, said mounting plate means having a generally circular shape and having top, bottom and peripheral portions, a first plurality of cutting teeth mounted on the bottom portion of said mounting plate means, a second plurality of cutting teeth mounted on the peripheral portion of said mounting plate means, a third plurality of cutting teeth mounted on the top portion of said mounting plate means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
A brush and tree clearing cutting wheel comprising: mounting plate means including a hub capable of attachment to a rotatable shaft, said mounting plate means having a generally circular shape and having top, bottom and peripheral portions, a first plurality of cutting teeth mounted on the bottom portion of said mounting plate means, a second plurality of cutting teeth mounted on the peripheral portion of said mounting plate means, a third plurality of cutting teeth mounted on the top portion of said mounting plate means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
104 words
The wheel of claim 19 wherein said mounting plate means comprises a massive disc-shaped plate, said apparatus further comprising: a first plurality of tooth-mounting blocks affixed to the bottom portion of said plate, said first plurality of teeth being removably fastened on said first plurality of mounting blocks, said first plurality of mounting blocks arranged in a spiral pattern on said bottom portion, a second plurality of mounting blocks affixed to the peripheral portion of said plate, said second plurality of teeth removably fastened thereto, said second plurality of mounting blocks serially positioned at varying angles with respect to the plane of said plate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
89 words
The wheel of claim 20 wherein said third plurality of teeth comprise: a first set of teeth affixed to the top portion of said plate adjacent the periphery thereof, said first set of teeth having the cutting edges thereof arranged at an angle to the plane of said plate, and a second set of teeth affixed to the top portion of said plate spaced radially inwardly from the periphery thereof, said second set of teeth having the cutting edges thereof arranged substantially parallel to the plane of said plate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
The wheel of claim 20 wherein each of said first and second sets of teeth are of a generally parallelepiped shape extending outwardly in a longitudinal direction from said plate, said teeth having two parallel cutting edges, a first of said cutting edges generally parallel with the plane of said disc and spaced therefrom, said second cutting edge being a reserve cutting edge contacting the bottom portion of said disc.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
121 words
The wheel of claim 20 wherein said mounting blocks comprise: a relatively flat holder having one edge fixed to said disc, said holder having a generally vertically extending cutting surface along its leading edge, said holder having a slot extending from the forward apex thereof rearwardly and inwardly, said first and second sets of teeth comprising a bar having a longitudinal groove therein, said groove mating with one side of said slot, the side of said bar opposite said groove mating with the other side of said slot, an end portion of said bar projecting out of said slot and forwardly of said holder, said end portion having a cutting surface thereon, means for removably fixing said tooth in said holder.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
82 words
The wheel of claim 19, said mounting plate means comprising: a top section having a generally circular shape and having an annular flange extending downwardly therefrom, a bottom section having a generally circular shape and having an upwardly extending annular flange thereon, said annular flanges including means for interconnection thereof, the pluralities of cutting teeth mounted on the bottom surface of said bottom section, on the peripheral portion formed by said annular flanges, and on the top surface of said top section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
The wheel of claim 19, said mounting plate means comprising: a top disc-shaped section, a hollow frustoconically shaped bottom section, said top and bottom sections having means for interconnection thereof, the pluralities of cutting teeth mounted on the conically shaped exterior surface of said bottom section and on the top surface of said top section.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
The wheel of claim 19 further comprising mounting blocks affixed to the bottom and peripheral portions of said wheel, said teeth removably mounted on said blocks, said blocks being massive relative to said teeth, said mounting blocks having a leading edge positioned forwardly of the leading edge of said teeth.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
97 words
A land clearing head for mounting on a movable boom affixed to a vehicle comprising: mounting block means for connection to said boom, a first shaft journaled in said mounting block means having a generally vertical orientation, a first cutting wheel mounted on said first shaft for rotation generally in a horizontal plane, said cutting wheel having a plurality of cutting teeth affixed to the bottom, peripheral and top portions thereof, the thickness of said cutting wheel being relatively small relative to the diameter thereof, and motor means mounted on said mounting block for rotating said shaft.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
97 words
A land clearing head for mounting on a movable boom affixed to a vehicle comprising: mounting block means for connection to said boom, a first shaft journaled in said mounting block means having a generally vertical orientation, a first cutting wheel mounted on said first shaft for rotation generally in a horizontal plane, said cutting wheel having a plurality of cutting teeth affixed to the bottom, peripheral and top portions thereof, the thickness of said cutting wheel being relatively small relative to the diameter thereof, and motor means mounted on said mounting block for rotating said shaft.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
105 words
The clearing head of claim 27 further comprising: a second shaft journaled in said mounting block means above said first shaft, said second shaft oriented generally perpendicularly to said first shaft, a second cutting wheel mounted on said second shaft for rotation generally in a vertical plane, said second cutting wheel located on said second shaft above said first cutting wheel and having at least a portion of the plane of rotation thereof within the periphery of said second wheel, a plurality of cutting teeth mounted on said second cuTting wheel on the periphery thereof and on the surface thereof nearest the mounting block means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
78 words
The clearing head of claim 28 wherein the cutting teeth mounted on the top surface of said first cutting wheel nearest the periphery thereof project upwardly a greater distance than the cutting teeth mounted radially inwardly therefrom, the locus of points defined by the cutting edges of the teeth on said second cutting wheel being spaced substantially equidistantly from the locus of points defined by the cutting edges of teeth on the top surface of the first wheel.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
230 words
A clearing, thinning and slash disposal apparatus comprising: support means capable of being attached to a land vehicle, an elongate boom having a free end and a supported end, first means mounting the supported end of said boom to said support means for pivotal movement about a first axis transverse to said boom, said first axis so oriented relative to said support means to mount said free end for movement in a vertical direction, second means mounting the supported end of said boom to said support means for pivotal movement about a second axis transverse to said first axis, said second axis so oriented relative to said support means to mount said free end for movement in a lateral direction, a tool carrier, third means mounting said tool carrier to the free end of said boom for pivotal movement about a third axis transverse to said boom, and means cooperating with said boom and said tool carrier for selectively positioning said tool carrier at various angular positions relative to said boom, a disc-shaped cutting tool mounted for rotation on said tool carrier about a fourth axis transverse to said third axis, said tool having a bottom and a periphery, said tool having a plurality of cutting members affixed to the bottom and the periphery thereof and projecting therefrom, motor means for rotating said cutting tool mounted on said tool carrier.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
230 words
A clearing, thinning and slash disposal apparatus comprising: support means capable of being attached to a land vehicle, an elongate boom having a free end and a supported end, first means mounting the supported end of said boom to said support means for pivotal movement about a first axis transverse to said boom, said first axis so oriented relative to said support means to mount said free end for movement in a vertical direction, second means mounting the supported end of said boom to said support means for pivotal movement about a second axis transverse to said first axis, said second axis so oriented relative to said support means to mount said free end for movement in a lateral direction, a tool carrier, third means mounting said tool carrier to the free end of said boom for pivotal movement about a third axis transverse to said boom, and means cooperating with said boom and said tool carrier for selectively positioning said tool carrier at various angular positions relative to said boom, a disc-shaped cutting tool mounted for rotation on said tool carrier about a fourth axis transverse to said third axis, said tool having a bottom and a periphery, said tool having a plurality of cutting members affixed to the bottom and the periphery thereof and projecting therefrom, motor means for rotating said cutting tool mounted on said tool carrier.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising: fourth means mounting said supported end of said boom for pivotal movement about a fourth axis oriented generally along the elongate dimension of said boom thereby mounting said free end of said boom for rolling movement about said fourth axis.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising: a land vehicle having ground engaging means motive means thereon, said support means being affixed to said vehicle.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said cutting tool has a top and further comprises: means formed on the top of said cutting tool, said means being so constructed to prevent debris falling thereon from becoming lodged on the top of said cutting tool and to assist in removal of debris therefrom as said tool rotates in said carrier.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |