Tree harvester

Claim 2

A tree harvesting machine comprising: (a) a supporting frame; (b) an elongated bed carried by said frame and constructed and arranged to support thereon a tree to be harvested; (c) a carriage movably carried by said frame for reciprocating movement longitudinally of said bed; (d) powered means connected to said carriage for reciprocating the same longitudinally of said bed; (e) limb-stripping means carried by said carriage and movable therewith and constructed and arranged to extend around the trunk of such a tree alternatively in either snug or loosely-engaging relation, as desired, when the tree is supported by said bed; (f) actuator means connected to said limb-stripping means in actuating relation to cause the same to selectively engage the trunk of such a tree in either snug or loosely-engaging relation as desired, whereby said limb-stripping means will move such a tree longitudinally of said bed when in snug engaging relation thereto as said carriage moves rearwardly along said bed and will stip the limbs off the trunk of such a tree when in loosely-engaging relation thereto as said carriage moves forwardly relative to the trunk of the tree; (g) powered clamping means movably supported by said frame above said bed at a fixed location relative thereto and intermediate the extent of said frame and in position to receive and clamp the trunk of such a tree upon said bed; (h) powered saw means carried by said clamping means and movable therewith between the clamping and non-clamping positions thereof; (i) said saw means being movably mounted on said clamping means for movement relative thereto between a retracted position and a tree-trunk sawing position; and (j) powered control means connected to said saw for controllably moving the same between its said positions.

Claim 3

The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said clamping means has a clamping surface extending transversely of said bed and said saw means extends generally parallel to said clamping surface.

Claim 4

The structure defined in claim 1, (k) an upright framework carried by said frame intermediate its extent and supporting said clamping means and saw means, (l) said clamping means including: (1) a generally rectangular vertical holding plate having a serrated lower holding edge for engaging and holding the trunk of such a tree, and (2) a pair of vertical hydraulic cylinders, one each of which is pivotally connected at its lower end to opposite lower corner portions of said plate and is pivotally connected at its upper end to the upper portions of said framework for moving said holding plate between tree clamping and non-clamping positions.

Claim 5

The structure defined in claim 1, (k) an upright framework carried by said frame intermediate its extent and supporting said saw means and said clamping means; (l) said clamping means including a generally vertically extending holding plate for engaging and holding the trunk of such a tree; (m) said saw means including: (1) a generally horizontally extending powered chain saw, (2) a saw mounting plate carried by said holding plate in elevated relation thereto, and (3) a pair of hydraulic cylinders each pivotally connected to opposite end portions of said saw and extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom toward each other to said mounting plate and being pivotally connected thereto.

Claim 6

The structure defined in claim 1, (k) an upright framework carried by said frame intermediate its extent and supporting said saw means and said clamping means; (l) powered means extending between said framework and said saw means for moving the latter toward and away from said bed; (m) said saw means including: 1. a generally horizontally extending powered chain saw, 2. a pair of vertically extending guide rods, one each of which is mounted at opposite sides of said upright framework, and 3. a pair of guide sleeves mounted upon opposite end portions of said saw, one each of which is arranged in pierced relation with one of said guide rods whereby said saw means is guided as it is so moved.

Claim 7

The strucrture defined in claim 1 in which said clamping means has a clamping surface facing said bed and said retracted position of said saw means is located on a side of said clamping surface opposite said limb-stripping means.

Claim 8

The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said powered means reciprocating said carriage is controlled by an electrically controlled hydraulic valve which, when closed, precludes reciprocation of said carriage and, when open, makes reciprocation of said carriage possible, and (k) switch means connected in valve controlling relation with said valve and carried by said frame in position relative to said saw means to be engaged and moved by said saw means to valve-closing position as the latter moves to a tree-trunk sawing position, and to be moved by said saw means to valve-opening position as said saw means returns to retracted position.

Claim 9

The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said clamping means has a clamping surface extending transversely of said bed and said saw means includes a generally horizontally extending chain saw traversing at least the major portion of the length of said clamping surface of said clamping means.

Claim 10

The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said clamping means includes guide structure therefor to guide the same as it moves between tree clamping and non-clamping positions relative to said bed, and (k) switch means mounted on said guide structure in position relative to said saw means to be moved between open and closed positions by said saw means as the latter moves between retracted and tree-sawing positions, said switch means being connected in controlling relation with said powered means connected to said carriage to preclude reciprocation of said carriage while said saw means is in tree-trunk sawing position.

Claim 11

The structure defined in claim 1, and (k) selective ejector means carried by said frame on the side of said saw means opposite said carriage means.

Claim 12

The structure defined in claim 1, and selective log-ejecting means carried by said frame on the side of said saw means opposite said clamping means.

Claim 13

The structure defined in claim 1, and powered rotary log-ejecting means carried by said frame rearwardly of and adjacent to said saw means and extending longitudinally of said bed and rotating about an axis extending longitudinally of said bed, said ejecting means being selectively rotatable in opposite directions to selectively engage and discharge severed sections of such a tree to opposite sides of said bed after they have been cut by said saw means.

Claim 14

The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said saw means includes a generally horizontally extending chain saw; and (k) a hydraulic motor mounted upon one and portion of said saw in driving relation with said saw and moving therewith.

Claim 15

The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting frame is mobile.

Claim 16

A tree harvesting machine comprising: (a) a support frame; (b) an elongated bed carried by said frame and constructed and arranged to support thereon a tree to be harvested; (c) a carriage movably carried by said frame for reciprocating movement longitudinally of said bed; (d) powered means connected to said carriage for reciprocating the same longitudinally of said bed; (e) limb-stripping means carried by said carriage and movable therewith and constructed and arranged to extend around the trunk of such a tree alternatively in either snug or loosely-engaging relation, as desired, when the tree is supported by said bed; (f) actuator means connected to said limb-stripping means in actuating relation to cause the same to selectively engage the trunk of such a tree in either snug or loosely-engaging relation as desired. whereby said limb-stripping means will move such a tree longitudinally of said bed when in snug engaging relation thereto as said carriage moves rearwardly along said bed, and will stip the limbs off the trunk of such a tree when in loosely-engaging relation thereto as said carriage moves forwardly relative to the trunk of the tree; (g) powered clamping means movably supported by said frame for vertical movement only above said bed at a fixed location relative thereto, and intermediate the extent of said frame and in position to receive and clamp the trunk of such a tree upon said bed; (h) powered saw means carried by said clamping means adjacent to and rearwardly of said clamping means and movable therewith between the clamping and non-clamping positions thereof and constructed and arranged to saw off a section of the trunk of such a tree while the latter is clamped by said clamping means; (i) said saw means being constructed and arranged for movement between a retracted and a tree-trunk sawing position; (j) powered control means connected to said saw for controllably moving the same between its said positions; and (k) controllably selective rotary ejector means carried by said frame and constructed and arranged relative to said bed, clamping means, and saw means to be selectively rotated and engage such a cut section of a tree turnk to thereby selectively eject the same to either side of said bed as desired.

Claim 17

A tree harvesting machine comprising: (a) a support frame; (b) an elongated bed carried by said frame and constructed and arranged to support thereon a tree to be harvested; (c) a carriage movably carried by said frame for reciprocating movement longitudinally of said bed; (d) powered means connected to said carriage for reciprocating the same longitudinally of said bed; (e) limb-stripping means carried by said carriage and movable therewith and constructed and arranged to extend around the trunk of such a tree alternatively in either snug or loosely-engaging relation, as desired, when the tree is supported by said bed; (f) actuator means connected to said limb-stripping means in actuating relation to cause the same to selectively engage the trunk of such a tree in either snug or loosely-engaging relation as desired. whereby said limb-stripping means will move such a tree longitudinally of said bed when in snug engaging relation thereto as said carriage moves rearwardly along said bed, and will stip the limbs off the trunk of such a tree when in loosely-engaging relation thereto as said carriage moves forwardly relative to the trunk of the tree; (g) powered clamping means movably supported by said frame for vertical movement only above said bed at a fixed location relative thereto, and intermediate the extent of said frame and in position to receive and clamp the trunk of such a tree upon said bed; (h) powered saw means carried by said clamping means adjacent to and rearwardly of said clamping means and movable therewith between the clamping and non-clamping positions thereof and constructed and arranged to saw off a section of the trunk of such a tree while the latter is clamped by said clamping means; (i) said saw means being constructed and arranged for movement between a retracted and a tree-trunk sawing position; (j) powered control means connected to said saw for controllably moving the same between its said positions; and (k) controllably selective rotary ejector means carried by said frame and constructed and arranged relative to said bed, clamping means, and saw means to be selectively rotated and engage such a cut section of a tree turnk to thereby selectively eject the same to either side of said bed as desired.

Claim 18

The structure defined in claim 15, (l) said rotary ejector means including an elongated shaft extending longitudinally of said bed and rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis; (m) said shaft having a plurality of ejecting arms extending radially therefrom in position to engage such sections of a tree trunk as they are cut in opposite directions; and (n) controllable bi-directional rotary power means connected to said shaft for selectively rotating the same about its longitudinal axis in either direction, whereby the cut sections of the trunk may be ejected to either side of the bed as desired.