US3850304A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radio controlled skyline skidder
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-04
•
Granted: 1974-11-26
•
Expires: 1993-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A log skidder employed in a cable logging operation which utilizes a skyline with the skidder including supporting assemblies engaged with the skyline for movement of the skidder on the skyline in the same manner as a carriage is moved on the skyline. The skidder is moved along the skyline and is in the form of a self-contained vehicle having a radio controlled winch thereon for skidding logs to a position adjacent the skyline from a position remote from the skyline thus, in effect, windrowing the logs so that the logs can be more efficiently carried by a carriage with a grapple thereon to the yarding or landing area.
Inventors
- 👤 W Howell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:33
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/003; A01G23/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A skidder for use with a skyline cable and snubber cable usable to move the skidder over rough terrain, said skidder comprising a vehicle having front and rear towers and a powered winch for reeling and unreeling a logging cable by which logs may be pulled from a point remote from the vehicle to a point adjacent said vehicle, means on the towers for releasably attaching the vehicle to a skyline cable so that said vehicle may be so positioned and oriented on a rough terrain to facilitate log movement from a tree cutting or felling area to a landing or yarding area, each of said towers including roller guide means for receiving a skyline cable, a portion of said roller guide means being detachable to provide an entranceway and exitway for mounting the towers onto a skyline cable, said tower on the rear of the vehicle including a roller guide assembly for a cable connected with a power winch to enable the cable to be utilized for pulling logs in substantially any lateral direction from the vehicle, the rear tower including a tie-down winch having a guy line conneCted therewith for anchoring the skidder in a direction opposite to the forces exerted on the skidder by pulling logs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
A skidder for use with a skyline cable and snubber cable usable to move the skidder over rough terrain, said skidder comprising a vehicle having front and rear towers and a powered winch for reeling and unreeling a logging cable by which logs may be pulled from a point remote from the vehicle to a point adjacent said vehicle, means on the towers for releasably attaching the vehicle to a skyline cable so that said vehicle may be so positioned and oriented on a rough terrain to facilitate log movement from a tree cutting or felling area to a landing or yarding area, each of said towers including roller guide means for receiving a skyline cable, a portion of said roller guide means being detachable to provide an entranceway and exitway for mounting the towers onto a skyline cable, said tower on the rear of the vehicle including a roller guide assembly for a cable connected with a power winch to enable the cable to be utilized for pulling logs in substantially any lateral direction from the vehicle, the rear tower including a tie-down winch having a guy line conneCted therewith for anchoring the skidder in a direction opposite to the forces exerted on the skidder by pulling logs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said winch for pulling logs is radio controlled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the roller guide means each include a top roller having a smaller center diameter thus forming double tapered rollers engaging the skyline cable whereby the skyline cable will be centered therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the tower at the front of the vehicle is supported from a bulldozer blade, and longitudinally extending connecting bars interconnecting the front and rear towers with a pivotal connection thereby enabling the blade to be altered in position without disconnecting the front tower therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
182 words
A skidder for use with a skyline cable and snubber cable usable to move the skidder over rough terrain, said skidder comprising a vehicle having front and rear towers and a powered winch for reeling and unreeling a logging cable by which logs may be pulled from a point remote from the vehicle to a point adjacent said vehicle, means on the towers for releasably attaching the vehicle to a skyline cable so that said vehicle may be positioned and oriented on a rough terrain to facilitate log movement from a tree cutting or felling area to a landing or yarding area, each of said towers including roller guide means for receiving a skyline cable, a portion of said roller guide means being detachable to provide an entranceway and exitway for mounting the towers onto a skyline cable, the tower at the front of the vehicle being supported from a bulldozer blade, and longitudinally extending connecting bars interconnecting the front and rear towers with a pivotal connection thereby enabling the blade to be altered in position without disconnecting the front tower therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
A skidder for use with a skyline cable and snubber cable usable to move the skidder over rough terrain, said skidder comprising a vehicle having front and rear towers and a powered winch for reeling and unreeling a logging cable by which logs may be pulled from a point remote from the vehicle to a point adjacent said vehicle, means on the towers for releasably attaching the vehicle to a skyline cable so that said vehicle may be positioned and oriented on a rough terrain to facilitate log movement from a tree cutting or felling area to a landing or yarding area, each of said towers including roller guide means for receiving a skyline cable, a portion of said roller guide means being detachable to provide an entranceway and exitway for mounting the towers onto a skyline cable, the tower at the front of the vehicle being supported from a bulldozer blade, and longitudinally extending connecting bars interconnecting the front and rear towers with a pivotal connection thereby enabling the blade to be altered in position without disconnecting the front tower therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
164 words
A skidder for use with a skyline cable and snubber cable usable to move the skidder over rough terrain, said skidder comprising a vehicle having front and rear towers and a powered winch for reeling and unreeling a logging cable by which logs may be pulled from a point remote from the vehicle to a point adjacent said vehicle, means on the towers for releasably attaching the vehicle to a skyline cable so that said vehicle may be so positioned and oriented on a rough terrain to facilitate log movement from a tree cutting or felling area to a landing or yarding area, each of said towers including roller guide means for receiving a skyline cable, a portion of said roller guide means being detachable to provide an entranceway and exitway for mounting the towers onto a skyline, said rear tower including further winch means and said front tower further including a bulldozer blade alterable in various positions in front of said front tower.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
A skidder for use with a skyline cable and snubber cable usable to move the skidder over rough terrain, said skidder comprising a vehicle having front and rear towers and a powered winch for reeling and unreeling a logging cable by which logs may be pulled from a point remote from the vehicle to a point adjacent said vehicle, means on the towers for releasably attaching the vehicle to a skyline cable so that said vehicle may be so positioned and oriented on a rough terrain to facilitate log movement from a tree cutting or felling area to a landing or yarding area, each of said towers including roller guide means for receiving a skyline cable, a portion of said roller guide means being detachable to provide an entranceway and exitway for mounting the towers onto a skyline, said rear tower including further winch means and said front tower further including a bulldozer blade alterable in various positions in front of said front tower.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |