Root shear feller

Claim 1

A device for cutting appendages projecting from the stem of a tree such as roots or the like comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a grapple having arms movably mounted on said frame for positively gripping the stem of a tree; and c. a cutting device movably mounted on said grapple in spaced relation relative thereto for movement in a direction toward and away therefrom longitudinally along the stem of a tree grasped by said grapple, said cutting device having a cutting member connected to an arm of the grapple movably mounted on the frame for movement in unison therewith toward and away from the stem of the tree during grasping and releasing of the same by said grapple, said cutting member having a cutting edge facing longitudinally of the stem of the tree grasped by the grapple for severing appendages projecting outwardly from the stem of the tree.

Claim 2

A device for cutting appendages projecting from the stem of a tree such as roots or the like comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a grapple having arms movably mounted on said frame for positively gripping the stem of a tree; and c. a cutting device movably mounted on said grapple in spaced relation relative thereto for movement in a direction toward and away therefrom longitudinally along the stem of a tree grasped by said grapple, said cutting device having a cutting member connected to an arm of the grapple movably mounted on the frame for movement in unison therewith toward and away from the stem of the tree during grasping and releasing of the same by said grapple, said cutting member having a cutting edge facing longitudinally of the stem of the tree grasped by the grapple for severing appendages projecting outwardly from the stem of the tree.

Claim 12

A device for securing to the free end of an extendible and retractable boom for use in severing trees from their roots while the same are in a growing position comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a grapple including at least one pair of arms forming a jaw, each of said arms being pivotally secured to said frame; c. a first and second tree gripping member pivotally secured to respective ones of said pair of arms; d. at least a third tree gripping member pivotally secured to said frame and arranged to co-operate with said first and second tree gripping members for gripping a tree; e. link means interconnecting said tree gripping members to move the same relative to one another and said frame; f. power means connected to said tree gripping members for moving the same relative to said frame; g. power means connected to said grapple for moving said arms thereby opening and closing said jaw; h. cutting means movably mounted on each of said tree gripping members and movable therewith relative to said frame, said cutting means being movable toward and away from said tree gripping members; i. power means for moving said cutting means relative to said tree gripping members; and j. means guiding said cutting means during movement thereof toward and away from said tree gripping means.

Claim 13

A device for securing to the free end of an extendible and retractable boom for use in severing trees from their roots while the same are in a growing position comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a grapple including at least one pair of arms forming a jaw, each of said arms being pivotally secured to said frame; c. a first and second tree gripping member pivotally secured to respective ones of said pair of arms; d. at least a third tree gripping member pivotally secured to said frame and arranged to co-operate with said first and second tree gripping members for gripping a tree; e. link means interconnecting said tree gripping members to move the same relative to one another and said frame; f. power means connected to said tree gripping members for moving the same relative to said frame; g. power means connected to said grapple for moving said arms thereby opening and closing said jaw; h. cutting means movably mounted on each of said tree gripping members and movable therewith relative to said frame, said cutting means being movable toward and away from said tree gripping members; i. power means for moving said cutting means relative to said tree gripping members; and j. means guiding said cutting means during movement thereof toward and away from said tree gripping means.

Claim 14

A device for securing to the free end of an extendible and retractable boom for use in severing trees from their roots while the tree is in a growing position comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a grapple secured to said frame, said grapple including at least three tree gripping members each movably mounted on said frame for movement relative to one another, each of said members being movable toward and away from a common axis respectively to grip and release a tree therebetween; c. a tree severing device mounted on said grapple and disposed at a position spaced therefrom, said severing device including at least three cutting members, means movably mounting said cutting members for movement toward and away from said common axis; and d. power means for moving said tree gripping members and said cutting members relative to said tree.

Claim 15

A device for securing to the free end of an extendible and retractable boom for use in severing trees from their roots while the tree is in a growing position comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a grapple secured to said frame, said grapple including at least three tree gripping members each movably mounted on said frame for movement relative to one another, each of said members being movable toward and away from a common axis respectively to grip and release a tree therebetween; c. a tree severing device mounted on said grapple and disposed at a position spaced therefrom, said severing device including at least three cutting members, means movably mounting said cutting members for movement toward and away from said common axis; and d. power means for moving said tree gripping members and said cutting members relative to said tree.

Claim 17

A method of severing a tree from its roots while the tree is in a growing position comprising the steps of: positively gripping said tree by positioning grasping members of a grapple symmetrically about the periphery of the trunk of said tree to generally encircle the same, urging each of said grasping members toward said tree to grip the tree and in response thereto simultaneously in unison therewith positioning a plurality of cutting members symmetrically about and adjacent to the periphery of said trunk at a position between said grasping members and the roots of said tree; moving said cutting members in a direction away from said grapple longitudinally along said tree to sever the roots of the tree adjacent the trunk thereof.

Claim 18

A method of severing a tree from its roots while the tree is in a growing position comprising the steps of: positively gripping said tree by positioning grasping members of a grapple symmetrically about the periphery of the trunk of said tree to generally encircle the same, urging each of said grasping members toward said tree to grip the tree and in response thereto simultaneously in unison therewith positioning a plurality of cutting members symmetrically about and adjacent to the periphery of said trunk at a position between said grasping members and the roots of said tree; moving said cutting members in a direction away from said grapple longitudinally along said tree to sever the roots of the tree adjacent the trunk thereof.

Claim 23

A device for securing to the free end of an extendible and retractable boom for use in severing trees from their roots while the same are in a growing position comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a grapple including at least one pair of arms forming a jaw, each of said arms being pivotally attached to said frame; c. a first and second tree gripping member pivotally attached to respective ones of said pair of arms; d. a third tree gripping member pivotally attached to said frame and arranged to co-operate with said first and second tree gripping members for gripping a tree; e. link means interconnecting said tree gripping members synchronizing pivotal movement of the same; f. power means connected to said tree gripping members for pivotally moving the same on said frame; g. power means connected to said grapple for moving said arms to open and close the jaw provided by such arms respectively to receive and grasp the stem of a tree; h. cutting means connected to respective ones of said tree gripping members for movement in unison therewith during opening and closing of the grapple jaw, and means mounting the same thereon for guided reciprocal movement toward and away from said tree gripping members; and i. power means connected to said cutting means for moving the same toward and away from said tree gripping members.

Claim 24

A device for securing to the free end of an extendible and retractable boom for use in severing trees from their roots while the same are in a growing position comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a grapple including at least one pair of arms forming a jaw, each of said arms being pivotally attached to said frame; c. a first and second tree gripping member pivotally attached to respective ones of said pair of arms; d. a third tree gripping member pivotally attached to said frame and arranged to co-operate with said first and second tree gripping members for gripping a tree; e. link means interconnecting said tree gripping members synchronizing pivotal movement of the same; f. power means connected to said tree gripping members for pivotally moving the same on said frame; g. power means connected to said grapple for moving said arms to open and close the jaw provided by such arms respectively to receive and grasp the stem of a tree; h. cutting means connected to respective ones of said tree gripping members for movement in unison therewith during opening and closing of the grapple jaw, and means mounting the same thereon for guided reciprocal movement toward and away from said tree gripping members; and i. power means connected to said cutting means for moving the same toward and away from said tree gripping members.

Claim 25

A device for securing to the free end of an extendible and retractable boom for use in severing trees from their roots while the tree is in a growing position comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a grapple secured to said frame, said grapple including two or more tree gripping members movably mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from one another respectively to grip and release the stem of a tree therebetween; c. a cutting device movably mounted on said grapple and disposed at a position spaced therefrom, said cutting device comprising a cutting member reciprocally mounted on respective ones of said gripping members for movement longitudinally along the stem of a tree gripped by said gripping members; d. power means connected to said gripping members for moving the same to receive and grip the stem of a tree; and e. power means connected to said cutting members for moving the same toward and away from the gripping member associated therewith.

Claim 26

A device for securing to the free end of an extendible and retractable boom for use in severing trees from their roots while the tree is in a growing position comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a grapple secured to said frame, said grapple including two or more tree gripping members movably mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from one another respectively to grip and release the stem of a tree therebetween; c. a cutting device movably mounted on said grapple and disposed at a position spaced therefrom, said cutting device comprising a cutting member reciprocally mounted on respective ones of said gripping members for movement longitudinally along the stem of a tree gripped by said gripping members; d. power means connected to said gripping members for moving the same to receive and grip the stem of a tree; and e. power means connected to said cutting members for moving the same toward and away from the gripping member associated therewith.