Brush saw cutting head with integral herbicide applicator

• US 20040045166A1
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apex Reforestation Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Apex Reforestation Ltd.
• Inventors: Williams, Peter, Hobday, Bryan Marc
• Granted Patent: US 6,886,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 30/123.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/14 with dispensing apparatus, e.g. for fertilisers, herbicides or preservatives

Abstract

A chamber is formed in the upper end of a brush saw cutting head housing. The brush saw cutting element drive spindle'"'"'s upper end projects into the chamber. The drive spindle'"'"'s lower end projects beneath the housing and is drivingly couplable to the cutting element. A disc is mounted against the underside of the cutting element. A cavity is formed in the disc. At least one channel extends through the disc, between the cavity and the disc'"'"'s external rim. An aperture extends through the drive spindle, between the chamber and the cavity. Herbicide supplied to the chamber flows from the chamber, through the drive spindle aperture, into the cavity. The drive spindle rotates the disc. Centrifugal force imposed on herbicide within the cavity forces the herbicide through the channel(s) onto the underside of the cutting element, for transfer onto the stumps of material cut by the element.

Claims

1. A brush saw cutting head, comprising:

(a) a drive spindle having a lower end drivingly couplable to a cutting element;

(b) an aperture extending through said drive spindle between an upper end of said drive spindle and a lower region of said drive spindle above said drive spindle lower end;

(c) a member positioned against an underside of said cutting element; and

,

(d) at least one fluid flow channel extending through said member in fluid communication between said drive spindle aperture and an external rim of said member.

2. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 1, wherein said member further comprises a disc having a cavity, said cavity in fluid communication between said drive spindle aperture and said fluid flow channel.

3. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 1, further comprising a housing having a chamber formed in an upper end of said housing, said drive spindle upper end projecting into said chamber, said chamber in fluid communication between said drive spindle aperture and said chamber.

4. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 2, further comprising a housing having a chamber formed in an upper end of said housing, said drive spindle upper end projecting into said chamber for fluid communication between said drive spindle aperture and said chamber.

5. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 4, further comprising a seal mounted between said chamber and said drive spindle upper end to prevent fluid passage from said chamber between said housing and said drive spindle.

6. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 5, further comprising a fluid deflector fixed to said drive spindle beneath said seal, said deflector rotatable with said drive spindle to deflect fluid outwardly away from said drive spindle.

7. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 4, wherein said drive spindle aperture further comprises:

(i) a longitudinal aperture extending between said chamber and said drive spindle lower region; and

,

(ii) a transverse aperture in said drive spindle lower region, said transverse aperture extending between said longitudinal aperture and said cavity.

8. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 4, further comprising a fluid flow orifice in said housing, said orifice extending between said chamber and a socket couplable to one end of a fluid conduit.

9. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

(a) a fluid canister couplable to an opposite end of said fluid conduit; and

,

(b) a fluid-containing bladder within said canister, said bladder in fluid communication with said fluid conduit.

10. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 9, further comprising a valve in said canister for injection of pressurized air between said canister and said bladder.

11. A brush saw cutting head, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a chamber formed in an upper end of said housing;

(c) a drive spindle having an upper end projecting into said chamber and a lower end projecting beneath said housing, said drive spindle lower end drivingly couplable to a cutting element;

(d) a seal mounted between said chamber and said drive spindle upper end to prevent fluid passage from said chamber between said housing and said drive spindle;

(e) a disc mounted against an underside of said cutting element;

(f) a cavity formed in said disc;

(g) at least one channel extending through said disc between said cavity and an external rim of said disc; and

,

(h) an aperture extending through said drive spindle between said chamber and said cavity.

12. A method of applying herbicide to the underside of a brush saw cutting element while said cutting element is drivingly rotated by a drive spindle, said method comprising:

(a) passing said herbicide through said drive spindle into a fluid flow channel formed adjacent said underside of said brush saw cutting element; and

,

(b) passing said herbicide through said fluid flow channel onto said underside of said brush saw cutting element.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising sealing said drive spindle to prevent herbicide passage externally along said drive spindle.

14. A brush saw cutting head, comprising:

(a) a drive spindle having a lower end drivingly couplable to a cutting element;

(b) an aperture extending through said drive spindle between an upper end of said drive spindle and a lower region of said drive spindle above said drive spindle lower end;

(c) a member positioned against an underside of said cutting element; and

,

(d) at least one fluid flow channel extending over said member in fluid communication between said drive spindle aperture and an external rim of said member.

15. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 14, wherein said member further comprises a disc having a cavity, said cavity in fluid communication between said drive spindle aperture and said fluid flow channel.

16. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 14, further comprising a housing having a chamber formed in an upper end of said housing, said drive spindle upper end projecting into said chamber, said chamber in fluid communication between said drive spindle aperture and said chamber.

17. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 15, further comprising a housing having a chamber formed in an upper end of said housing, said drive spindle upper end projecting into said chamber for fluid communication between said drive spindle aperture and said chamber.

18. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 17, further comprising a seal mounted between said chamber and said drive spindle upper end to prevent fluid passage from said chamber between said housing and said drive spindle.

19. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 18, further comprising a fluid deflector fixed to said drive spindle beneath said seal, said deflector rotatable with said drive spindle to deflect fluid outwardly away from said drive spindle.

20. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 17, wherein said drive spindle aperture further comprises:

(i) a longitudinal aperture extending between said chamber and said drive spindle lower region; and

,

(ii) a transverse aperture in said drive spindle lower region, said transverse aperture extending between said longitudinal aperture and said cavity.

21. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 17, further comprising a fluid flow orifice in said housing, said orifice extending between said chamber and a socket couplable to one end of a fluid conduit.

22. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 21, further comprising:

(a) a fluid canister couplable to an opposite end of said fluid conduit; and

,

(b) a fluid-containing bladder within said canister, said bladder in fluid communication with said fluid conduit.

23. A brush saw cutting head as defined in claim 22, further comprising a valve in said canister for injection of pressurized air between said canister and said bladder.