Tree harvester

Claim 2

A tree harvester comprising a mobile frame carrying tree processing means to sever a standing tree, fell the tree backward over the harvester and remove limbs therefrom, said tree processing means comprising an elongated member mounted on the frame, a second elongated member mounted on the frame for reciprocation relative to the first, a trunnion mounting for both members on which they swivel together, tree severing means mounted on the second elongated member, limb removal means operable longitudinally on the first elongated member to remove limbs from a tree, tree transfer means mounted on the second elongated member for pivoting a severed tree backward over the machine into a position lengthwise of the first elongated member and clamp means on the first elongated member for holding the severed tree stationary.

Claim 3

A tree harvester as defined in claim 1 wherein the tree processing means includes tree severing means pivotally mounted on the second elongated member, said tree severing means, limb removal means and tree transfer means all acting in a common vertical plane such that lateral movement of a severed tree is not required.

Claim 4

A tree harvester as defined in claim 2 wherein the tree transfer means is operable between the tree severing means and limb removal means for grasping a tree closely adjacent the severed end and transferring it to the limb removal means by lifting the severed tree through an arc having a substantially greater vertical component of motion than horizontal component through a cutting zone extending above and below the ground line of the machine.

Claim 5

The tree harvester as defined in claim 3 wherein said tree transfer means includes first and second arms pivoting from the end of said second elongated member on spaced upper and lower pivots imparting a backward turning motion to said tree such that a severed tree will overlie said first elongated member when the arms are pivoted upward.

Claim 6

The tree harvester as defined in claim 4 wherein said second elongated member has a downwardly extending end portion and said first arm is longer than the second and is pivotally mounted on the distal end of said end portion defining a first pivotal location, said second arm mounted on said end portion at a second pivotal location spaced above the first and linkage means pivotally interconnecting said first and second arms at third and fourth pivotal locations at the opposite ends of the first and second arms.

Claim 7

A mobile processor for full length trees mounted on a wheeled frame, said frame having a front section carried by ground engaging wheels and a rear section hinged about a vertical axis to the front section carried also by ground engaging wheels and a pair of steering cylinders, one on each side of the hinge axis actuatable for pivoting one frame section relative to the other for maneuvering the machine through timber areas, a longitudinally stationary beam member mounted on the front section extending lengthwise of the frame, an elongated boom member reciprocally mounted on the front section for extension and retraction in a direction forwardly of said beam member, a trunnion mounting for both the beam and boom members on the front section providing an axis of rotation parallel to the hinge axis between the front and rear sections about which both the beam and boom members are rotatable as a unit, a tree felling head mounted on the boom member operable to sever a standing tree adjacent the base and hold the tree stem in a substantially upright position, limb removal means mounted on the beam member operable longitudinally thereof for delimbing a severed tree stem, and tree transfer means operable for transferring the tree stem from the upright position to a position generally overlying the beam member whereby said felling heaD means is free to sever a second tree while said limb removal means delimbs the first tree.

Claim 8

A mobile processor for full length trees mounted on a wheeled frame, said frame having a front section carried by ground engaging wheels and a rear section hinged about a vertical axis to the front section carried also by ground engaging wheels and a pair of steering cylinders, one on each side of the hinge axis actuatable for pivoting one frame section relative to the other for maneuvering the machine through timber areas, a longitudinally stationary beam member mounted on the front section extending lengthwise of the frame, an elongated boom member reciprocally mounted on the front section for extension and retraction in a direction forwardly of said beam member, a trunnion mounting for both the beam and boom members on the front section providing an axis of rotation parallel to the hinge axis between the front and rear sections about which both the beam and boom members are rotatable as a unit, a tree felling head mounted on the boom member operable to sever a standing tree adjacent the base and hold the tree stem in a substantially upright position, limb removal means mounted on the beam member operable longitudinally thereof for delimbing a severed tree stem, and tree transfer means operable for transferring the tree stem from the upright position to a position generally overlying the beam member whereby said felling heaD means is free to sever a second tree while said limb removal means delimbs the first tree.

Claim 9

The processor according to claim 6 wherein a tree accumulator member is mounted on the front section alongside said beam member and is rotatable as a unit with the beam and boom members said trunnion mounting providing rotational movement for the beam boom and accumulator members a limited extent to the right or left of the vehicle center line whereby said beam, boom and acculator members are free to rotate as the mobile processor moves on to the next tree to be severed.

Claim 10

The processor according to claim 7 wherein said boom member is reciprocable between a retracted position adjacent the front end of said beam member and an extended position forwardly thereof and said tree transfer means including first means pivoting in a vertical plane on the boom member and pivotally supporting said felling head means in one position adjacent the base of the tree and in a second position elevated and rotated backward felling the tree lengthwise of the main beam and second means stationary adjacent the front of the main beam operable for holding the tree stem on the main beam when released by said felling head means and for releasing and directing the tree into said accumulator member after delimbing.

Claim 11

A tree harvester comprising a mobile frame an elongated member mounted on the frame, a second elongated member reciprocally mounted for extension and retraction forwardly of the first elongated member, a trunnion mounting on the frame for both elongated members providing that the two are stationary relative to each other for rotational movement, limb removal means operating longitudinally on the first elongated member to strip limbs from felled trees, felling head means including a shear and grapple operable to sever a tree adjacent the ground and hold it in an upright position tree transfer means pivotally mounted on said second elongated member having first and second pivots, first and second arms pivoting in a vertical plane about said first and second pivots, said first arm having a pivotal attachement at the opposite end adjacent the lower end of said felling head means and said second arm having a pivotal connection at its opposite end with the felling head spaced above said first arm pivot connection imparting a backward turning movement to a severed tree in transposing it from an upright position held by the felling head means to a raised position lying lengthwise of said first elongated member.

Claim 12

A tree harvester comprising a mobile frame an elongated member mounted on the frame, a second elongated member reciprocally mounted for extension and retraction forwardly of the first elongated member, a trunnion mounting on the frame for both elongated members providing that the two are stationary relative to each other for rotational movement, limb removal means operating longitudinally on the first elongated member to strip limbs from felled trees, felling head means including a shear and grapple operable to sever a tree adjacent the ground and hold it in an upright position tree transfer means pivotally mounted on said second elongated member having first and second pivots, first and second arms pivoting in a vertical plane about said first and second pivots, said first arm having a pivotal attachement at the opposite end adjacent the lower end of said felling head means and said second arm having a pivotal connection at its opposite end with the felling head spaced above said first arm pivot connection imparting a backward turning movement to a severed tree in transposing it from an upright position held by the felling head means to a raised position lying lengthwise of said first elongated member.

Claim 13

A tree harvester according to claim 9 wherein said topping means operable after said limb removal means has traveled a predetermined length of the tree stem for cutting off the upper portion thereof.

Claim 14

A tree harvester according to claim 10 wherein said first arm is longer than the second, the pivotal connection at the end of the second arm with said felling head means comprising a link pivotally connecting the end of the second arm intermediate the ends of the first arm so as to impart to the felling head means a backward turning movement as the first and second arms pivot upwardly.

Claim 15

A tree harvester as defined in claim 10 wherein the angle of rotation of said trunnion mounting is not substantially greater than the width necessary to clear a path for the machine to travel through.

Claim 16

A combined tree harvester comprising a mobile frame having front and rear, wheeled frame sections pivotally connected about a vertical axis, a pair of steering cylinders, one on each side of the axis operable for turning one frame section relative to the other to maneuver said frame, two independent power sources. one in the front and one in the rear frame section, a trunnion on the front frame section having a vertical axis of rotation, a stationary beam mounted on said trunnion rotatable thereon in a horizontal arc providing a first degree of movement in a plane sufficiently above the ground line to provide clearance for said wheels, a crowd boom telescoping in the frOnt end of said stationary beam and providing a second degree of movement in a fore and aft direction from a retracted position adjacent the front frame section to an extended position, a grapple arm pivotally mounted on the end of said crowd boom and extending downwardly therefrom when lowered to a position adjacent the ground, a first hydraulic cylinder connected between the crowd boom and grapple arm operable to pivot said arm in a vertical plane providing a third degree of movement, a combined shear and grapple head pivotally mounted on said arm, a second hydraulic cylinder connected between the arm and said shear and grapple head operable to rotate said head about a horizontal axis providing a fourth degree of movement, said second, third and fourth degrees of movement being performed in a substantially vertical plane through said stationary beam, a delimber beam reciprocably mounted relative to said stationary beam and extensible rearwardly thereof, a delimber and topping carriage having means engageable with the tree for removing limbs along the stem and topping off the uppermost portion of the tree reciprocally mounted on the said delimber beam, drive means for the delimber beam and carriage, a stationary clamp mounted on the main beam in front of said delimber beam and carriage and operable between an open position for receiving a tree and a closed, clamped position restraining a severed tree against axial movement as said carriage travels to remove the limbs and top of said tree and the stack height of said head, clamp and carriage in the raised position of said grapple arm being sufficently compact such that delimbing commences closely adjacent the butt end of the tree.

Claim 17

A combined tree harvester comprising a mobile frame having front and rear, wheeled frame sections pivotally connected about a vertical axis, a pair of steering cylinders, one on each side of the axis operable for turning one frame section relative to the other to maneuver said frame, two independent power sources. one in the front and one in the rear frame section, a trunnion on the front frame section having a vertical axis of rotation, a stationary beam mounted on said trunnion rotatable thereon in a horizontal arc providing a first degree of movement in a plane sufficiently above the ground line to provide clearance for said wheels, a crowd boom telescoping in the frOnt end of said stationary beam and providing a second degree of movement in a fore and aft direction from a retracted position adjacent the front frame section to an extended position, a grapple arm pivotally mounted on the end of said crowd boom and extending downwardly therefrom when lowered to a position adjacent the ground, a first hydraulic cylinder connected between the crowd boom and grapple arm operable to pivot said arm in a vertical plane providing a third degree of movement, a combined shear and grapple head pivotally mounted on said arm, a second hydraulic cylinder connected between the arm and said shear and grapple head operable to rotate said head about a horizontal axis providing a fourth degree of movement, said second, third and fourth degrees of movement being performed in a substantially vertical plane through said stationary beam, a delimber beam reciprocably mounted relative to said stationary beam and extensible rearwardly thereof, a delimber and topping carriage having means engageable with the tree for removing limbs along the stem and topping off the uppermost portion of the tree reciprocally mounted on the said delimber beam, drive means for the delimber beam and carriage, a stationary clamp mounted on the main beam in front of said delimber beam and carriage and operable between an open position for receiving a tree and a closed, clamped position restraining a severed tree against axial movement as said carriage travels to remove the limbs and top of said tree and the stack height of said head, clamp and carriage in the raised position of said grapple arm being sufficently compact such that delimbing commences closely adjacent the butt end of the tree.

Claim 18

The harvester as defined in claim 13 wherein one power source is connected to said delimber drive means and said hydraulic cylinders and the other power source is connected for driving said wheels whereby the vehicle may be maneuvered while a tree is being processed.

Claim 19

The harvester as defined in claim 14 wherein a bunk is attached along one side of the stationary beam and is movable therewith, said bunk having a pair of pivoted arms which in the raised position accumulate tree stems in the delimbed and topped condition and in the lowered position drop said stem into a pile on the ground suitable for skidding.

Claim 20

A mobile tree harvester having a generally longitudinally extending processor, a reciprocally mounted boom movable relative to said processor and tree grapple and severing means carried on said boom having hydraulic cylinder means for operating said grapple and severing means characterized in that a plurality of hydraulic hoses containing hydraulic fluid are connected to a source of hydraulic fluid and to said hydraulic cylinders, a hose rack including a first stationary rack section mounted on said processor, an extendible section mounted on said boom being of sufficiently greater length than said stationary rack section so as to store substantially the entire length of said hoses, and a plurality of longitudinally extending channels in each rack section holding said hoses in stacked loops arrayed such that as the boom is extended and retracted, portions of said hose loops are transferred from one rack section to the other.

Claim 21

A mobile tree harvester having a generally longitudinally extending processor, a reciprocally mounted boom movable relative to said processor and tree grapple and severing means carried on said boom having hydraulic cylinder means for operating said grapple and severing means characterized in that a plurality of hydraulic hoses containing hydraulic fluid are connected to a source of hydraulic fluid and to said hydraulic cylinders, a hose rack including a first stationary rack section mounted on said processor, an extendible section mounted on said boom being of sufficiently greater length than said stationary rack section so as to store substantially the entire length of said hoses, and a plurality of longitudinally extending channels in each rack section holding said hoses in stacked loops arrayed such that as the boom is extended and retracted, portions of said hose loops are transferred from one rack section to the other.