US3894568A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tree harvesting apparatus
Assignee: Timberjack Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-07
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1994-03-07
Abstract
Abstract An improved tree harvesting apparatus includes a felling assembly for severing the trunk of a standing tree and positioning the tree trunk in a delimber assembly. The delimber assembly includes a delimber head mounted on a carriage which is movable along a boom upon operation of a drive motor. Upon initiation of outward movement of the delimber carriage along the boom, a motor is activated to move a plurality of delimber blades into engagement with the tree trunk. These delimber blades strip the branches from the trunk of the tree as the carriage and delimber head move outwardly along the boom. When the carriage reaches a topping position, operation of the carriage drive motor is automatically stopped. A pair of topping blades can then be moved inwardly to top or cut off an outer end portion of the tree trunk. As soon as the tree trunk has been topped, the carriage drive motor is automatically activated to move the delimber head further outwardly so that it is clear of the end of the topped tree trunk. The felling assembly is then actuated to deposit the topped and delimbed tree trunk in a bunk.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert H Windsor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:15
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; A01G23/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
An apparatus for use in harvesting trees, said apparatus comprising a base, a longitudinally extending boom connected with said base, a carriage mounted for outward movement along said boom from an initial position to a topping position and from said topping position to an extended position, delimber means mounted on said carriage for delimbing the trunk of a tree during outward movement of said carriage along said boom from said initial position to said topping position, shear means mounted on said carriage for cutting off a top portion of the trunk of a tree when said carriage is stopped in said topping position, drive means for moving said carriage outwardly along said boom from said initial position to said topping position to enable said delimber means to delimb the trunk of a tree and for moving said carriage outwardly from said topping position to said extended position to move said carriage outwardly of the outer end of a delimbed and topped tree trunk, first control means including manually actuatable means for initiating operation of said drive means to move said carriage from said initial position to said topping position, and second control means for automatically reinitiating operation of said drive means independent of said first control means to move said carriage outwardly from said topping position To said extended position in response to operation of said shear means to cut off the top portion of a delimbed tree trunk.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
239 words
An apparatus for use in harvesting trees, said apparatus comprising a base, a longitudinally extending boom connected with said base, a carriage mounted for outward movement along said boom from an initial position to a topping position and from said topping position to an extended position, delimber means mounted on said carriage for delimbing the trunk of a tree during outward movement of said carriage along said boom from said initial position to said topping position, shear means mounted on said carriage for cutting off a top portion of the trunk of a tree when said carriage is stopped in said topping position, drive means for moving said carriage outwardly along said boom from said initial position to said topping position to enable said delimber means to delimb the trunk of a tree and for moving said carriage outwardly from said topping position to said extended position to move said carriage outwardly of the outer end of a delimbed and topped tree trunk, first control means including manually actuatable means for initiating operation of said drive means to move said carriage from said initial position to said topping position, and second control means for automatically reinitiating operation of said drive means independent of said first control means to move said carriage outwardly from said topping position To said extended position in response to operation of said shear means to cut off the top portion of a delimbed tree trunk.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said delimber means includes a plurality of delimber blades movable from an open condition spaced apart from the trunk of a tree to a closed position adjacent to the trunk of a tree, motor means for effecting movement of said delimber blades from the open condition to the closed condition in response to initiation of movement of said carriage from said initial position toward said topping position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second motor means includes a piston and cylinder assembly operable between an extended condition and a retracted condition to effect movement of said plurality of delimber blades between said open and closed conditions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including felling head means for clamping and severing the trunk of a standing tree, and boom means for moving said felling head means to position a clamped and severed tree trunk in said delimber means, and bunk means for receiving delimbed tree trunks, said control means including means for effecting operation of said felling head means to deposit a delimbed and topped tree trunk in said bunk means with said carriage in said extended position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first control means includes position responsive means for interrupting operation of said drive means and movement of said carriage in response to movement of said carriage to said topping position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carriage includes a longitudinally extending guide track having inner and outer end portions, said delimber means being movable between said inner and outer end portions of said guide track, and means for effecting movement of said delimber means along said guide track simultaneously with movement of said carriage along said boom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said delimber means is disposed inwardly of an outer end of said guide track when said carriage is in said topping position and is disposed adjacent to the outer end of said guide track when said carriage is in said extended position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means includes fluid motor means operable between a retracted condition and an extended condition to effect movement of said carriage between said initial, topping and extended positions, and valve means for effecting operation of said fluid motor means from the retracted condition to the extended condition at a first speed to effect rapid movement of said carriage from the initial position to the topping position and the rapid delimbing of a tree trunk and for effecting operation of said fluid motor means from the extended condition to the retracted condition at a second speed which is slower than said first speed to effect a relatively slow movement of said carriage from said extended position to said initial position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said drive means includes first fluid motor means operatively connected to said carriage, said shear means includes second fluid motor means operatively connected to blade members of said shear means, said apparatus also including a source of fluid power; characterized by first fluid circuit means connecting said first fluid motor means to said source of fluid power through said manually actuatable means, said fluid circuit means connecting said second fluid motor means with said source of fluid power, and means interconnecting said first and second fluid circuit means to enable said drive means to be operated through said second circuit means bypassing said manually actuatable means.
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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) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |