US3848648A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tree felling apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-04-06
•
Granted: 1974-11-19
•
Expires: 1993-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A tree feller is involved of the known type wherein a guide bar carrying a saw chain is pivotally mounted on a frame and closes in a horizontal plane toward an anvil. In the invention, the guide bar includes a guard extending over the return run of the saw chain. A housing extends forwardly, from the frame, parallel to but spaced from the anvil. The guide bar retracts into this housing in the open position so that the working run of the saw chain is protected. The kerf of the cut made by the saw chain is equal to or greater than the thickness of the guide bar and guard. A pusher is provided to control the direction of felling. Upstanding shoulders on the anvil and housing prevent the tree butt from skidding to either side. A hydraulic cylinder biases the guide bar and saw chain toward the anvil. The rate of expansion of this cylinder is controlled relative to the load on the saw chain, hence the saw advances slowly at the centre of the tree but rapidly when the cut is almost complete. The feller is characterized by: a non-wedging cutting action, so that splitting is reduced; a saw chain which is protected at all times; and efficient use of its cutting power.
Inventors
- 👤 M Dika
- 👤 J Dika
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:05
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; A01G23/08; A01G23/091
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A tree feller comprising: a frame having a base and an anvil extending forwardly therefrom; a cutting assembly comprising a guide bar, pivotally mounted at its inner end on the base, having an endless, driven saw chain mounted on its peripheral portion, said cutting assembly further comprising a guard member, associated with the guide bar, for protecting the upper and lower side surfaces of the return portion of the saw chain, said guide bar and guard member having substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces; means for rotating the saw chain about the guide bar; means for advancing the cutting assembly from an open position to a closed position adjacent the anvil, whereby a tree located between them may be cut by the saw chain; a pusher assembly associaTed with the frame and adapted to contact a tree being cut at a point spaced above the guide bar; means for pressing the upper portion of the pusher assembly against the tree to control the direction of its fall; said saw chain being of sufficient size to make a cut having a kerf substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the guide bar and associated guard plate, whereby the tree may be cut without any substantial wedging action.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A tree feller comprising: a frame having a base and an anvil extending forwardly therefrom; a cutting assembly comprising a guide bar, pivotally mounted at its inner end on the base, having an endless, driven saw chain mounted on its peripheral portion, said cutting assembly further comprising a guard member, associated with the guide bar, for protecting the upper and lower side surfaces of the return portion of the saw chain, said guide bar and guard member having substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces; means for rotating the saw chain about the guide bar; means for advancing the cutting assembly from an open position to a closed position adjacent the anvil, whereby a tree located between them may be cut by the saw chain; a pusher assembly associaTed with the frame and adapted to contact a tree being cut at a point spaced above the guide bar; means for pressing the upper portion of the pusher assembly against the tree to control the direction of its fall; said saw chain being of sufficient size to make a cut having a kerf substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the guide bar and associated guard plate, whereby the tree may be cut without any substantial wedging action.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The tree feller as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a hollow housing is secured to the base and extends forwardly therefrom in spaced relation to the anvil, said housing being adapted to receive the guide bar when it is in the open position to protect the working run of the saw chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A tree feller as set forth in claim 1, comprising: means for controlling the rate of advance of the cutting assembly responsive to the load on the saw chain; and said anvil carrying an undercut shear extending inwardly toward the cutting assembly and positioned so that the working run of the saw chain is disposed beneath it when the guide bar has moved to the closed position and the cut is complete.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The free feller as set forth in claim 2 wherein: the guard member is sufficiently wide so as to extend from the guide bar substantially to the housing when the guide bar is in the closed position, whereby a cut tree is prevented from dropping between the guide bar and housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
The tree feller of claim 1 comprising: a drive sprocket associated with the guide bar and adapted to rotate the saw chain, and a first hydraulic circuit, comprising a pump and a motor, for rotating the drive sprocket; a hydraulic cylinder attached at one end to the frame and at the other end to the guide bar; a second hydraulic circuit, comprising a pump, for actuating the cylinder to advance the guide bar from the open to the closed position; said second circuit being responsive to the load on the first circuit so as to slow the rate of advance as the load increases and accelerate it as the load decreases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The tree feller as set forth in claim 3 wherein: the guide bar is formed of interconnected, vertically spaced apart parallel members; and the saw chain is of the straddle type and rides on the side edges of said guide bar members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a tree feller for use in conjunction with a bulldozer, having a frame comprising a base and an anvil, a cutting assembly pivotally mounted on the base and comprising a guide bar carrying an endless saw chain, said anvil spaced from the cutting assembly and extending forwardly from the base, means for rotating the saw chain on the guide bar, and means for advancing the cutting assembly toward the anvil, the improvement which comprises the combination of: an undercut shear carried by the anvil, extending inwardly toward the cutting element and positioned so that the working run of the saw chain is disposed beneath it at the completion of its cut; means for controlling the rate of advance of the cutting assembly toward the anvil responsive to the load on the saw chain; a pusher assembly associated with the frame and adapted to contact a tree being cut at a point spaced above the guide bar; and means for pressing the upper portion of the pusher assembly against a tree being cut to control the direction of its fall over the anvil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a tree feller for use in conjunction with a bulldozer, having a frame comprising a base and an anvil, a cutting assembly pivotally mounted on the base and comprising a guide bar carrying an endless saw chain, said anvil spaced from the cutting assembly and extending forwardly from the base, means for rotating the saw chain on the guide bar, and means for advancing the cutting assembly toward the anvil, the improvement which comprises the combination of: an undercut shear carried by the anvil, extending inwardly toward the cutting element and positioned so that the working run of the saw chain is disposed beneath it at the completion of its cut; means for controlling the rate of advance of the cutting assembly toward the anvil responsive to the load on the saw chain; a pusher assembly associated with the frame and adapted to contact a tree being cut at a point spaced above the guide bar; and means for pressing the upper portion of the pusher assembly against a tree being cut to control the direction of its fall over the anvil.
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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) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |