Apparatus for delimbing trees

Claim 2

Apparatus for delimbing felled trees comprising elongate support means for supporting a tree and providing a path along which the tree may be carried longitudinally of the path, powered driving means for moving a tree under power longitudinally along said path, shearing means for shearing limbs from such tree as it is carried under power along said path, chipper means beneath said shearing means for receiving limbs sheared from a tree and reducing the same to chips, and side shifter means downstream in said path from said shearing means operable to receive a delimbed tree and shift it laterally of said path to deposit the same in a region disposed laterally of said support means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises an endless flexible member having tree engaging elements thereon, training means about which said member extends with an elongate reach of said member extending longitudinally of said apparatus, and powered means operatively connected to said reach for driving the same in the direction of said path.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a tree engaging element comprises a member attached to said reach and having a flange thereon projecting outwardly into said path to engage a tree, and resilient limiting means on said member adjacent said flange for limiting the extent of penetration of said flange into a tree.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said driving means is mounted for shifting toward and away from said path, and which further comprises crowding means for urging said reach of the flexible member and the elements thereon toward said path.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said driving means further comprises a second flexible, endless member spaced from and paralleling said first-mentioned member, and said tree engaging elements comprise elongate substantially rigid members having projecting flanges thereon, said members extending between and being connected at spaced points to said flexible members with the flanges thereon projecting into said path.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shearing means comprises a pair of opposed arms pivotally connected to said support means at opposite sides of said path and spaced-apart longitudinally of said path, an elongate wrap-around cutter associated with each of said arms, a cutter including a plurality of cutter teeth pivotally interconnected for swinging relative to each other about axes extending parallel to said path with cutting edges on said teeth facing in an upstream direction relative to said path and being secured at one of its ends to said support means and at its other end to one of said arms in a region spaced outwardly from said support means, and powered means operatively connected to said arms to swing the same under power inwardly of said path to wrap said cutters over a tree carried along said path.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein an arm is arcuate and is positioned with its concave side facing said path.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises cut off means adjacent said shearing means, said cut off means being operable to remove an end portion of a tree from the remaining portions of the tree to permit dropping said end portions into said chipper means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said cut off means comprises a power-actuated guillotine blade mounted for swinging under power through said path.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support means comprises an elongate tree support having an upper tree supporting surface extending longitudinally of said apparatus, and said side shifter means comprises a pair of elongate conveyors spaced apart longitudinally of said apparatus and extending transversely of said path, said conveyors being mounted for vertical shifting between lowered positions below the tree supporting surface of said support and raised positions above said surface to lift a tree from said surface, and power-actuated means for shifting said conveyors between their lowered and raised positions.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said conveyors further comprise means for shifting a tree lifted from said tree supporting surface laterally of said path to deposit the same adjacent said apparatus.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one of the conveyors in said pair is shiftable between a stored position disposed substantially centrally relative to the longitudinal centerline of said apparatus and an operating position shifted laterally of said path with an outer end thereof projecting outwardly beyond a side of said support means.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12, which further comprises reversible, power-actuated means for shifting said one conveyor between said stored and operating positions.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one of said conveyors in said pair comprises an elongate, flexible conveyor member having a reach extending laterally of and underlying said path for a tree and having lugs secured thereto and projecting upwardly into said path when said conveyor is in its raised position, and which further comprises drive means for driving said conveyor member transversely of said path.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said one conveyor comprises an elongate substantially rigid support beam mounted for shifting vertically and laterally of said apparatus and said power-actuated means for shifting said conveyor between a raised and lowered position comprises an upright extensible-contractible ram connected adjacent its upper end to said beam and shiftable laterally therewith, and a cooperating base member on said support means along which the lower end of said ram moves during lateral shifting and against which the ram bears on extension to produce raising of said conveyor.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 15, which further comprises bracing means operable to maintain said ram in a sutstantially upright position.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support means comprises an elongate platform having forward and rear sections pivotally connected for swinging relative to each other about a substantially horizontal pivot axis and operator means for folding one of said sections over into a supported position resting atop the other of said sections.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said operator means comprises an elongate link pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends for swinging about said pivot axis relative to said forward and rear sections, a first extensible-contractible ram pivotally connected at one of its ends to said forward section, and a second extensible-contractible ram pivotally connected at one of its ends to said rear section, said first and second rams being pivotally connected at their other set of ends to said link in a region spaced from said pivot axis.

Claim 20

Apparatus for delimbing felled trees comprising elongate support means for supporting a tree and providing a path along which the tree may be carried longitudinally through the apparatus, powered driving means for moving a tree under power longitudinally along said path including an endless flexible member, training means about which said member extends with an elongate reach of the member extending longitudinally of said apparatus, flanged tree-engaging members attached to said reach with flanges on the members projecting outwardly into the path for a tree to engage such tree, resilient limiting means mounted on said members for limiting the extent of penetration of said flange into a tree, and powered means operatively connected to said reach for driving the same in the direction of said path, shearing means for shearing limbs from a tree as it is carried under power along said path, and chipper means beneath said shearing means for receiving limbs sheared from a tree and reducing the same to chips.

Claim 21

Apparatus for delimbing felled trees comprising elongate support means for supporting a tree and providing a path along which the tree may be carried longitudinally through the apparatus, powered driving means for moving a tree under power longitudinally along said path including an endless flexible member, training means about which said member extends with an elongate reach of the member extending longitudinally of said apparatus, flanged tree-engaging members attached to said reach with flanges on the members projecting outwardly into the path for a tree to engage such tree, resilient limiting means mounted on said members for limiting the extent of penetration of said flange into a tree, and powered means operatively connected to said reach for driving the same in the direction of said path, shearing means for shearing limbs from a tree as it is carried under power along said path, and chipper means beneath said shearing means for receiving limbs sheared from a tree and reducing the same to chips.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said driving means is mounted for shifting toward and away from said path and which further comprises crowding means for urging said reach of the flexible member and the elements thereon toward the path for a tree.

Claim 23

Apparatus for delimbing felled trees comprising elongate support means for supporting a tree and providing a path along which the tree may be carried longitudinally through the apparatus, driving means for moving a tree under power longitudinally along said path, shearing means for shearing limbs from a tree as it is carried under power along said path including a pair of opposed arms pivotally connected to said support means at opposite sides of said path and spaced apart longitudinally of said path, an elongate wrap-around cutter associated with each of said arms, a cutter including a plurality of cutter teeth pivotally interconnected for swinging relative to each other about axes extending substantially parallel to said path, with cutting edges on said teeth facing in an upstream direction relative to said path, each cutter being secured at one of its ends to said support means and at its other end to one of said arms in a region spaced outwardly from said support means, and powered means operatively connected to said arms for swinging the same under power inwardly of said path to wrap said cutters about a tree carried along said path, and chipper means beneath said shearing means for receiving limbs sheared from a tree and reducing the same to chips.

Claim 24

Apparatus for delimbing felled trees comprising elongate support means for supporting a tree and providing a path along which the tree may be carried longitudinally through the apparatus, driving means for moving a tree under power longitudinally along said path, shearing means for shearing limbs from a tree as it is carried under power along said path including a pair of opposed arms pivotally connected to said support means at opposite sides of said path and spaced apart longitudinally of said path, an elongate wrap-around cutter associated with each of said arms, a cutter including a plurality of cutter teeth pivotally interconnected for swinging relative to each other about axes extending substantially parallel to said path, with cutting edges on said teeth facing in an upstream direction relative to said path, each cutter being secured at one of its ends to said support means and at its other end to one of said arms in a region spaced outwardly from said support means, and powered means operatively connected to said arms for swinging the same under power inwardly of said path to wrap said cutters about a tree carried along said path, and chipper means beneath said shearing means for receiving limbs sheared from a tree and reducing the same to chips.

Claim 25

Apparatus for delimbing felled trees comprising an elongate tree support having an upper tree supporting surface extending longitudinally of said apparatus for supporting a tree and providing a path along which it may be carried longitudinally through the apparatus, driving means for moving a tree under power longitudinally along said path, shearing means for shearing limbs from a tree as it is carried under power along said path, and side shifter means downstream in said path from said shearing mean operable to receive a delimbed tree and shift it laterally of said path to deposit the same in a region spaced laterally of said support means, said side shifter means including a pair of elongate conveyors spaced apart longitudinally of said apparatus and extending transversely of said path, said conveyors being mounted for vertical shifting between lowered positions below the tree-supporting surface of said support and raised positions above said surface to lift a tree from said surface, and power-actuated means for shifting said conveyors between said lowered and raised positions and means for shifting a tree lifted from said tree supporting surface laterally of said path to deposit the same adjacent said apparatus.

Claim 26

Apparatus for delimbing felled trees comprising an elongate tree support having an upper tree supporting surface extending longitudinally of said apparatus for supporting a tree and providing a path along which it may be carried longitudinally through the apparatus, driving means for moving a tree under power longitudinally along said path, shearing means for shearing limbs from a tree as it is carried under power along said path, and side shifter means downstream in said path from said shearing mean operable to receive a delimbed tree and shift it laterally of said path to deposit the same in a region spaced laterally of said support means, said side shifter means including a pair of elongate conveyors spaced apart longitudinally of said apparatus and extending transversely of said path, said conveyors being mounted for vertical shifting between lowered positions below the tree-supporting surface of said support and raised positions above said surface to lift a tree from said surface, and power-actuated means for shifting said conveyors between said lowered and raised positions and means for shifting a tree lifted from said tree supporting surface laterally of said path to deposit the same adjacent said apparatus.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein one of said conveyors in said pair is shiftable between a stored position disposed substantially centrally of said apparatus and an operating position shifted laterally of said path with an outer end thereof projecting outwardly beyond a side of said support means.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said one conveyor comprises an elongate, substantially rigid support beam mounted for shifting vertically and laterally of said apparatus and said power-actuated means for shifting said conveyor between a raised and lowered position comprises an upright, extensible-contractible ram connected adjacent its upper end to said beam and shiftable laterally therewith, and a cooperating base member on said support means along which the lower end of said ram moves during lateral shifting and against which the ram bears on extension to produce raising of said conveyor.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 24, which further comprises bracing means operable to maintain said ram in a substantially upright position.

Claim 30

Apparatus for delimbing felled trees comprising elongate support means for supporting a tree and providing a path along which the tree may be carried longitudinally through the apparatus, said support means including an elongate platform having forward and rear sections pivotally connected for swinging relative to each other about a substantially horizontal pivot axis and operator means for swinging one of said sections about said pivot axis between a supported position resting atop the other said section and an operating position substantially axially aligned with the other of said sections, powered driving means for moving a tree under power longitudinally along said path, shearing means for shearing limbs from said tree as it is carried under power along said path, chipper means beneath said shearing means for receiving limbs from a tree and reducing the same to chips, and side shifter means downstream in said path from said shearing means operable to receive a delimbed tree and shift it laterally of said path to deposit the same in a region laterally of said support means.

Claim 31

Apparatus for delimbing felled trees comprising elongate support means for supporting a tree and providing a path along which the tree may be carried longitudinally through the apparatus, said support means including an elongate platform having forward and rear sections pivotally connected for swinging relative to each other about a substantially horizontal pivot axis and operator means for swinging one of said sections about said pivot axis between a supported position resting atop the other said section and an operating position substantially axially aligned with the other of said sections, powered driving means for moving a tree under power longitudinally along said path, shearing means for shearing limbs from said tree as it is carried under power along said path, chipper means beneath said shearing means for receiving limbs from a tree and reducing the same to chips, and side shifter means downstream in said path from said shearing means operable to receive a delimbed tree and shift it laterally of said path to deposit the same in a region laterally of said support means.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said operator means comprises an elongate link pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends for swinging about said pivot axis relative to said forward and rear sections, a first extensible-contractible ram pivotally connected at one of its ends to said forward section, and a second extensible-contractible ram pivotally connected at one of its ends to said rear section, said first and second rams being pivotally connected at their other set of ends to said link in a region spaced from said pivot axis.