US4074510A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine for cutting hedges, grass and other arboreal growth
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-03-03
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Granted: 1978-02-21
•
Expires: 1996-03-03
Abstract
Abstract The work-head of a tractor-mounted machine for cutting hedges, grass and other arboreal growth is pivotally mounted on the outer end of an angularly movable boom and contains a balanced rotary cutting device which is driven from the power take-off shaft of the tractor by a belt drive. Both the work-head and the boom are movable about horizontal axes parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tractor, under the control of the tractor driver.
Inventors
- 👤 William Thomas Teagle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:12
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D34/00; A01D34/01; A01D34/412; A01D34/42; A01D34/43; A01D34/435; A01D34/52; A01D34/535; A01D34/835; A01D34/86; A01G; A01G3/00; A01G3/04; A01G3/0426
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A machine for cutting or trimming hedges, grass, weeds, crops and other vegetable or arboreal growth, said machine comprising: a supporting frame for mounting upon the rear end of an agricultural tractor, said tractor having a power take-off shaft; a shaft journaled in said supporting frame for operative connection to said power take-off shaft; a laterally extending boom mounted at its inner end on said supporting frame for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tractor; a work-head pivotally mounted on the outer end of said boom for movement about an axis parallel with said pivotal axis of said boom; means operable from said tractor for independently moving said boom and said work-head about their pivotal axes; a rotor mounted in said work-head; a plurality of flails extending radially outwardly from said rotor; a driving pulley mounted on said shaft; a first driven pulley rotatably mounted on said work-head; a primary belt drivingly coupling said driving pulley and said first driven pulley; a second driving pulley rotatably mounted on said work-head and rotatable with said first driven pulley; a second driven pulley coaxial with and mounted to said rotor; and a secondary belt drivingly coupling said second driving pulley to said second driven pulley, whereby said primary and secondary belts serve to transmit power from said tractor to said rotor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A machine for cutting or trimming hedges, grass, weeds, crops and other vegetable or arboreal growth, said machine comprising: a supporting frame for mounting upon the rear end of an agricultural tractor, said tractor having a power take-off shaft; a shaft journaled in said supporting frame for operative connection to said power take-off shaft; a laterally extending boom mounted at its inner end on said supporting frame for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tractor; a work-head pivotally mounted on the outer end of said boom for movement about an axis parallel with said pivotal axis of said boom; means operable from said tractor for independently moving said boom and said work-head about their pivotal axes; a rotor mounted in said work-head; a plurality of flails extending radially outwardly from said rotor; a driving pulley mounted on said shaft; a first driven pulley rotatably mounted on said work-head; a primary belt drivingly coupling said driving pulley and said first driven pulley; a second driving pulley rotatably mounted on said work-head and rotatable with said first driven pulley; a second driven pulley coaxial with and mounted to said rotor; and a secondary belt drivingly coupling said second driving pulley to said second driven pulley, whereby said primary and secondary belts serve to transmit power from said tractor to said rotor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A machine according to claim 1 and further comprising: a hydraulic ram coupled between said supporting frame and said boom; and means for supplying operating fluid to said hydraulic ram from said tractor under control of the tractor operator; said boom being pivotably mounted to said supporting frame, the motion of said boom about its pivotable axis being controlled by said hydraulic ram.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein said rotor comprises: a cylindrical hub; and a plurality of supports radiating from said hub; said flails being mounted at the outer ends of said supports, each of said flails being paired with another of said flails which is located diametrically opposite thereto but offset axially therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A machine according to claim 3 wherein pairs of said supports extend radially from the surface of said rotor hub, each pair of said supports carrying a hardened bush on which one of said flails is pivotally mounted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A machine according to claim 4 wherein said flails are so mounted on said bushes as to be rotatable through 360°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A machine according to claim 4, wherein said supports comprise arms of which one arm of each pair extends on opposite sides of the rotor hub and combines with two shorter arms on opposite sides thereof to support the bushes for a balanced pair of said flails.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A machine according to claim 6, wherein said supports comprise axially spaced discs mounted at their centres on said rotor hub, adjacent pairs of said discs being provided with registering holders for a flail-supporting bush.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A machine according to claim 1, wherein said primary belt drive includes two idler pulleys mounted on said boom for rotation about a common horizontal axis intermediate said first driving and driven pulleys and said driving belt passes over one of said idler pulleys on its outer run from the first driving pulley to the first driven pulley and passes over the other of said idler pulleys on its return run to the first driving pulley.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine according to claim 1, wherein said second driving pulley is of greater diameter than said first driven pulley and rotatable therewith about a horizontal axis at right angles to the axis of said rotor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
A machine according to claim 9, wherein said secondary belt drive includes two idler pulleys rotatable in one corner of the work-head about a common vertical axis intermediate said second driving and driven pulleys and the secondary driving belt passes around one of said pulleys on its way to said second driven pulley on the rotor and around the other of said pulleys on its return to said second driving pulley.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
A machine according to claim 1, wherein said boom is of articulated form and comprises an inner section mounted at its inner end on said supporting frame and an outer section which carries said work-head at its outer end and is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of said inner section for movement about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tractor by an hydraulic ram acting between said sections an supplied with operating liquid from the tractor under the control of the tractor driver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A machine according to claim 1, wherein said boom comprises two parallel sections one of which is mounted at its inner end on said supporting frame and the other of which carries said work-head at its outer end and is slidable longitudinally relative to said one section, and means is provided for clamping said sections together in any position of adjustment of said slidable section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A machine according to claim 1, wherein said work-head is movable about its pivotal axis by an hydraulic ram acting between said boom and said work-head and supplied with operating liquid from the tractor under the control of the tractor driver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine according to claim 1, wherein said work-head comprises a substantially oblong frame having its longer dimension at right angles to the pivotal axis of the work-head and covered on one side by a semi-circular guard.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
A machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotor comprises a stationary shaft extending at right angles to the pivotal axis of the work-head and secured in the ends of the work-head and a cylindrical sleeve constituting said hub rotatably surrounding the shaft and provided at one end with said driven pulley.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A machine according to claim 15, wherein bearings are interposed between said shaft and said sleeve at opposite ends of said rotor, said bearings comprising a roller bearing at the end provided with said driven pulley and a ball bearing at the opposite end.
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) | 1981-02-20 | 1981-08-22 | 1982-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-20 | 1985-08-22 | 1986-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-20 | 1989-08-22 | 1990-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |